3 reasons the Steelers shouldn’t address OT in the 1st round

Other needs

This is becoming the clearest issue for the Steelers, as their roster is set to have quite a few departures in free agency. This means the team will rely on the draft to find some early contributors for next year. Realistically, the team will have a relatively high need at center, tackle, running back, receiver, tight end, cornerback, and even linebacker. This roster will be filled with holes, and the front office will certainly have their work cut out for them.

The issue then becomes where the value seems to be in this draft. Take tight end for example. The top three options are talented and have high upsides, but after that, it seems like everyone is more of a backup type at the NFL level. If the Steelers deem tight end as a big need, they will likely need to spend their first-round pick on one to get one of the top prospects. What about center? If Pouncey returns, it may not be a top need, but the team will still need to be looking at centers relatively early.

You also have defense that could be a pick earlier than expected as well. The Steelers are set to have some talent leave their cornerback room, and it will need to be replenished. Throw in the prevalent needs at running back and receiver, and the Steelers will have a lot of work to do during this draft. It will come down to value, but the Steelers will be able to look at positions other than tackle in the first. At the end of the day, it could even be the best option for the Steelers.

While tackle is a clear need for the Steelers, they do have some options with what they do in the first round. They can’t be focused on only taking a tackle, as there will arguably be bigger needs than that in this draft. With the value that should be had in the middle rounds as well, the team may be wise to look elsewhere in the first. While it will ultimately depend on what the team does during free agency, just know that there are a lot of valid needs that could use a first-round selection.