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Best players available for the Steelers heading into round two of the 2020 NFL Draft

By Tommy Jaggi

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 10: Zack Baun #56 of the Wisconsin Badgers plays linebacker in the second quarter against the Akron Zips at Camp Randall Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 10: Zack Baun #56 of the Wisconsin Badgers plays linebacker in the second quarter against the Akron Zips at Camp Randall Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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The Steelers are preparing to pick at 49, and there are a number of talented players still on the board. Here are the best available heading into round two.

It was an exciting first day of the 2020 NFL Draft that included a handful of surprise picks. After a pretty routine start, players like Austin Jackson, Damon Arnette, and Jordan Brooks rose well above expectations. These types of selections undoubtedly help the Steelers heading into day two.

Pittsburgh has a number of needs they will look to address, and it’s hard to narrow in on one position they could target at pick 49. With the first round in the books, here are the best available players for the Steelers and my overall rankings of each heading into the second round:

RankProspectCollegePositionHtWtYear
15Zack BaunWisconsinOLB6’2″238SR
18Yetur Gross-MatosPenn StateEDGE6’5″266JR
20Josh JonesHoustonOT6’5″319SR
24Denzel MimsBaylorWR6’3″207SR
26Jonathan TaylorWisconsinRB5’11”226JR
27J.K. DobbinsOhio StateRB5’9″209JR
29Jaylon JohnsonUtahCB6’0″193JR
30Grant DelpitLSUS6’2″213JR
31A.J. EpenesaIowaDL5T6’5″275JR
33Antoine Winfield Jr.MinnesotaS5’9″203RSO
34Trevon DiggsAlabamaCB6’1″205JR
35D’Andre SwiftGeorgiaRB5’8″212JR
38Justin MadubuikeTexas A&MDL3T6’3″293RJR
39Bryan EdwardsSouth CarolinaWR6’3″215SR
40Michael Pittman Jr.USCWR6’4″223SR
41Laviska ShenaultColoradoWR6’1”227JR
43Xavier McKinneyAlabamaS6’0″201JR
44Ezra ClevelandBoise StateOT6’6″311rJR
45Jalen HurtsOklahomaQB6’2″210SR
48Josh UcheMichiganOLB6’1″245RJR
49Lloyd CushenberryLSUOC6’3″312RJR
50Akeem Davis-GaitherAppalachian StateOLB6’1″224SR
51Isaiah WilsonGeorgiaOT6’7″350rSO
52Julian OkwaraNotre DameEDGE6’4″252SR
53Kristian FultonLSUCB6’0″197SR
54James LynchBaylorDL5T6’4″295JR
55K.J. HamlerPenn StateWRS5’9″178JR
56Curtis WeaverBoise StateEDGE6’2″265RJR
57Marlon DavidsonAuburnDL5T6’3″303SR
58Jeremy ChinnS. IllinoisS6’3″221SR
59Cole KmetNotre DameTE6’6″262JR
60Chase ClaypoolNotre DameWR6’4″238SR
61Tee HigginsClemsonWR6’4″216JR

As you can see, there is plenty of reason for Steelers fans to start getting excited for day two of the NFL Draft. Though there are still 16 picks to go before Pittsburgh makes their selection at 49, the talent on the board runs deep.

Players like Yetur Gross-Matos and Josh Jones, and Denzel Mims, and J.K. Dobbins should be off the board early in the second round, there are plenty of others who have a chance to make their way to pick 49. Zack Baun is a player I am much higher on than most, but he’s a solid athlete with great college production and a terrific football IQ. With his flexibility to play both inside and outside linebacker, he would be impossible to ignore.

There are also two offensive tackles – Josh Jones and Ezra Cleveland – who would be well worth a second-round selection. It’s an unusually loaded group of tackles this year, and normally these players would already be off the board.

Pittsburgh could also be looking to target a skill player. Denzel Mims, Jonathan Taylor, and J.K. Dobbins top this talented list. If they miss out on this group, players like Michael Pittman Jr., Laviska Shenault, or K.J. Hamler could be not their radar.

Next. Steelers 2020 Mock Draft: Final seven-round version. dark

The Steelers have an incredibly important decision to make in the second round. As long as they don’t reach down their draft board for a position of need, there should be plenty of quality options to choose from.

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