With the season over halfway through, here is an updated mock draft for the Steelers in 2021
With the Steelers riding high at 9-0, the focus of this team should be winning a Super Bowl this year given the unprecedented start that they have seen. That said, it is always wise to keep future prospects in mind, and considering the NFL season is over halfway through, here is another update to my mock draft. This one shakes it up in a major way, targeting defense in the first and filling out the offense elsewhere.
As always, it is still early to judge where a player will fall, so keep in mind the position as much as the player. As well, this draft includes potential comp picks in the fourth and seventh-round even though those picks won’t be announced until later. Without any further ado, the Steelers are on the clock.
Round 1
On paper, the Steelers are relatively deep at cornerback, making one selected late in the first a curious choice. That said, two of the corners are set to be free agents, and in order to keep either of them, the team would likely have to cut one of their outside starters. Worse yet, Steven Nelson has struggled this year, and his spot is no longer guaranteed next year.
With all of these issues mixed in with the inconsistent play of the secondary, adding an option like Asante Samuel Jr. to this secondary could be a boost. The son of former NFL player Asante Samuel, the junior has put up a season so far with six passes defended and three interceptions. Better yet, Samuel is noted for his man coverage skills which fit perfectly into the Steelers man heavy system.
Even if the Steelers opt to keep their outside starters, Samuel could play similar to Cameron Sutton, meaning he works out of the slot but could transition to the outside later one. That said, if the Steelers moved on from Nelson, Samuel could be a plug and play starter on the outside. Lastly, Joe Haden isn’t getting any younger, so investing in a corner that screams future starter would be worth it in this draft. While not the largest need on the team, adding a talented corner late in the first may end up being the best-case scenario.
Round 2
The Steelers run game has been nothing short of abysmal over the past few games. James Conner has failed to do much with the ball in his hands and the line has struggled to get any sort of a push. Worse yet, the Steelers seem content to not work on this unit and mix in the backups. This unit will need a jolt this offseason and adding a dynamic back like Javonte Williams could fit the bill.
Williams has been the heart and soul of North Carolina’s offense this year, amassing over 1100 yards to go along with 18 total scores. The junior has good size at 5’10, 220 lbs, and surprising athleticism for a man his size. One of the biggest issues with Conner as a runner is his lack of pure speed (not a surprise for a back his size), but Williams looks faster on paper than Conner ever was. Better yet, Williams has great hands and can run simple routes, meaning he can be a true every-down back.
The biggest knock on him is his pass blocking ability. He seems willing but struggles to be overly effective in that aspect. That said, those issues can be worked out at the next level, and his speed and ability far outweigh his struggles as a blocker. If Williams is still on the clock late in the second round, he will be nearly impossible to ignore. He screams complete back and could start early on in his rookie year.
Round 3
While Eric Ebron has started to develop a decent role in the Steelers offense, depth and youth are desperately needed at the position. With Vance McDonald likely on his way out after this season and Zach Gentry struggling to do much of anything on the roster, investing a third-round pick into a potential starter makes sense. Of the mid-round options, Charlie Kolar has a lot of intrigue as a prospect.
The Iowa St. junior stands at 6’6 and somewhere around 250 lbs. His size makes him a mismatch weapon, and his competitive catches will make him a favorite in the red zone. That said, he has average speed overall. He won’t be a burner as a tight end, instead serving as more of a possession receiver that makes the tough catch but struggles to do much with the ball in his hands. Despite his impressive size, he struggles with strength and blocking, which could limit his play in his rookie year.
Given his size and the NFL conditioning, those issues could likely be overcome. Give him a year to bulk up and those strength issues suddenly dissolve. His blocking issues seem to be more because of his strength issues and not a willingness issue. Throw in his receiver ability and suddenly Kolar is a potential starter a year or two down the road. While his rookie impact would likely be limited due to his strength, he could be a starter as early as his sophomore year.
Round 4
While both of the Steelers safeties have improved their play over recent weeks, the depth behind them is certainly questionable. The team should be targeting this position in the draft as having a capable backup at either spot would be better than where they are now. Enter Leon O’Neal Jr. out of Texas A&M. The junior has great size and versatility to become a solid backup at the next level.
Known for his hard-hitting and consistent tackling, O’Neil seems more suited to be a strong safety at the next level. While he has the ability to cover deep, he is far more effective the closer he is to the line of scrimmage. His biggest issues are recognition and adjusting on the fly, but he would ideally have a few years before having to potentially become a starter on this defense. As well, he looks like a fierce special teams’ player. While he would have a long road to starting, adding a capable backup at safety should be a primary goal of this offseason.
I would have liked to address offensive tackle earlier in this draft, but it, unfortunately, wasn’t in the cards. That said, the Steelers have seen some impressive play from Chukwuma Okorafor on the right side, and with the likely return of Zach Banner next year, the team should have its two primary tackles. That said, adding a young rookie will improve the swing position and will ideally push both of the starters as he competes for more snaps.
Abraham Lucas would make a lot of sense at this juncture, as he seems like a safe prospect with only an average ceiling. The junior out of Washington St. has great size (6’7, 325 lbs) and has served as a solid right tackle. Given his play, he seems like he could start on either side which bodes well for his flexibility in the future. His biggest issue is his struggles with smaller speed rushers, as they can beat him around the edge. That said, he would have some time to develop before potentially starting, and adding him here would help fill out the depth chart.
Round 7
With Ben Roethlisberger playing clean and efficient football, the idea of drafting his successor goes down the drain as the team will try to retool their team to keep competing with their starting quarterback. That said, Mason Rudolph will be entering the final year of his rookie deal meaning the Steelers could be without a backup quarterback after next year. Given the plethora of mid to late-round options in this draft, the Steelers would be wise to throw a dart at the wall.
While this could be a wide variety of quarterbacks, Feleipe Franks has one of the best arms of the late-round options. While his accuracy can be suspect at times, his ability to throw the ball deep would be welcomed in this offense. He would be the favorite to be the third-string option next year and taking over as the primary backup the year after. While it would be a surprise for him (or any) late-round quarterback to become a starter, if he turns into a solid backup, he would be well worth the investment.
The Steelers need to fill out their linebacker depth chart, as options like Vince Williams and Avery Williamson may not be around next season. Taking a shot at an intriguing player like Purdue’s Derrick Barnes would make sense this late, as he has a unique skill set for a late-round player. He plays big at 6’1, 245 lbs, which has led to athleticism questions but a ferocious pass rush ability. He tallied 7.5 sacks last season as a hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker.
Given his skill set and inconsistencies as a rusher, he seems destined to play inside at the next level. That pass rush ability could be big though, as the Steelers have used Williams to rush up the middle effectively. If Barnes can transition there, he could end up being a solid two-down linebacker. While it would certainly take some time, Barned could carve out a role similar to that of Williams in future seasons.
While the Steelers’ sole focus right now is winning this season, keeping your eye out of future prospects is never a bad idea. As the mock draft season comes ever closer, keep these players in mind as potential fits with the Steelers.