The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a great start in 2020 with a 3-0 record. With great teams come cap issues and turnover so needs will be filled through the draft. Here are some possible draft targets according to the experts.
The 2021 NFL Draft will hopefully be held in person this year after the virtual platform last season. The Steelers are a really good team at the moment and look to be having cap issues in the upcoming offseason. With cap issues come casualties of players being released from the team and free agents walking away to make well-deserved money. Holes will need to be filled as the team hopes to remain in contention despite their cap problems. The only way to remain constant is by developing your own talent through the draft.
This year’s draft has many talented players that could help any team across the league. No matter where Pittsburgh finishes in the draft order, they will be able to select a really solid player that could help make an immediate impact for the team.
The experts in this article were derived from three sites that are very popular amongst the mock draft community. Those three outlets include CBS Sports, Pro Football Network, and Walter Football. Each of these sites is reliable with their scouting prowess and their abilities to estimate where prospects will go in the draft. Each one picked a differing prospect and a different position for the Steelers to select. They have the Steelers selecting from the 21-24 pick range as they see the team as a playoff contender this season.
Alex Leatherwood, Tackle, Alabama
In this mock draft, Nick Farabaugh of Pro Football Network has the Steelers selecting an offensive tackle with pick 21. This makes sense because their starting left tackle has his contract expiring after this season. Al Villanueva will be tough to re-sign due to the cap crunch that the team will be flustered with come the new league year.
A replacement will need to be found and it could be found here with Leatherwood. He is a prospect that will be on the rise come draft day and as many have noticed in the past couple drafts, a lot of linemen go in the first round. Leatherwood is a great physical prospect that can do it all. He is coming out of Alabama with a nice ceiling that the Steelers will really like.
He will need to show what he can do throughout this season to cement his draft stock as one of the best tackles in this class. Farabaugh breaks down this selection by saying, “Enter in Alex Leatherwood, who is smooth and quick on his feet. Leatherwood is extremely polished and brings a plug-and-play starter at the left tackle to help protect Ben Roethlisberger.” This prospect is held in high regard with the scouting community and could be a possible selection come draft day.
Shaun Wade, Cornerback, Ohio State
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports has the Steelers selecting Wade with pick 24 of the 1st round. Wade is an intriguing prospect as this season will be huge for him as he transitions from a slot corner to the boundary. If he can show the ability to be a shutdown corner on the outside then he will skyrocket up draft boards.
He has shown the ability to be the best slot corner in college football last season but he has a chance to show how dynamic he can be in his final season. Wade is a top-three prospect at his position entering the college year and could move up as the top corner if he shows his versatility. Is corner really a need for the Steelers? Yes, it is because both Cam Sutton and Mike Hilton will need raises and could potentially leave via free agency. Wade could jump right into the slot role that Hilton would leave behind and add depth.
Edwards broke down the pick by talking about Wade’s physical traits as some have concerns about if the corner can prove himself at the outside position. “Some have concerns about that transition but his ability to open his hips and run with receivers suggests that he will handle the vertical assignment well.” Edwards brings up some great points about the Ohio State product and he seems to be a potential Steeler if he’s there when the selection is made.
Trey Lance, Quarterback, North Dakota State
Walter Football is one of the top mock draft websites across the spectrum and many look at their site to get the latest projections. Their latest mock draft has the Steelers selecting Lance at pick 24. This is the most puzzling of the three shown so far as the Steelers seem content of taking advantage of Ben Roethlisberger’s remaining seasons.
Lance is a very raw talent and coming out of the best small-school program in college football. If Lance can show a better ability to throw and continue his running dominance, then he will be one of the most dynamic quarterbacks coming out of the draft in years. The rawness is what will scare teams plus the talent he plays against will also be a cause for concern. The Steelers selecting him year will get some differing reactions but it will show that Roethlisberger’s time is almost over and his heir apparent will be the North Dakota State product.
Walter Football broke down the pick saying, “Mason Rudolph has shown no signs that he can be the Steelers’ long-term quarterback. Trey Lance has some nice physical tools, and he’s coming off a huge year in 2019.” The argument is there and especially if Lance can show he can throw the ball as well as he can run it. He is an electric playmaker but quarterback will be a head-scratching pick nonetheless.