Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh ignores RB and OT until day three

Round 7

Unlike much of Steelers nation, I believe that the perceived need at quarterback shouldn’t be addressed this offseason. This is due to the team lacking the necessary resources to obtain a better quarterback than Mason Rudolph. That said, adding one late in the draft would be a wise idea. The team likes to carry three on the roster and even carried a fourth all season due to the COVID climate. As well, Josh Dobbs is set to be a free agent, so he is far from a guarantee to return to this roster.

Kellen Mond has had an up and down career at Texas A&M, and as of now looks to be a late-round target for teams. While he lacks the pocket awareness and decision-making skills to be a starter at this point, he does have some traits that are worth developing. As well, he can be a threat on the ground, making him a more modern style of quarterback. The goal for him is to be the third-stringer in year one and hope to develop him into a capable backup. No, he won’t be the quarterback of the future, but he very well could be the top backup for the majority of his rookie contract.

The Steelers’ depth at linebacker was put to the test this season, and although the unit held up relatively well, the team could use another body to compete and fill out the roster. While there are a plethora of late-round options that could be had, Paddy Fisher is a name that a lot of fans should keep an eye on. The former high recruit had a hot start to his college career before settling in as a talented albeit raw decision-maker for the Northwestern defense. If he can develop his play knowledge more, he could easily outplay his draft position.

As well, his size is another huge plus for him. He plays the inside linebacker position at nearly 250 lbs., and while he isn’t the athlete that Devin Bush is, he can hold his own in space. His instant role would be as a special team’s ace, but given his size, he could be a long-term replacement for Vince Williams. It will take an impressive jump in terms of his play knowledge, but he could be a role player for this team down the stretch. At the bare minimum, he should be a solid special team’s option and a reliable backup early on.

While this draft has strayed away from the recent focus of offensive tackle and quarterback, the Steelers enter this season with a surplus of needs. While the team will fill some of them with free agents, the limited resources will force the team to maximize the players they get in the draft. It will be an up and down offseason, but a draft like this should set the Steelers up for success down the road.