Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh goes CB first before attacking OL

Here is a seven-round Steelers mock draft for 2021

With the Super Bowl decided and teams no focusing on which players they are going to try to retain, the NFL has shifted completely into offseason mode. With that, the draft should be entering the minds of all NFL teams. With the Steelers set to have an offseason filled with loss, the draft will be critical in rebuilding this depth chart. Here is a Steelers seven-round 2021 mock draft.

Round 1:

When looking at the list of potential needs, cornerback isn’t one that would probably jump out as the highest need. Consider the fact that the team has two corners that essentially started for them set to hit free agency though. Add in Joe Haden possibly being a cap casualty and suddenly corner seems to be the highest need on the defense. If Jaycee Horn is still available at pick 24, the Steelers would be wise to pick him.

Horn had a solid career while with South Carolina and was one of the top lockdown corners in a competitive SEC. His biggest issues were his ball skills, but he seemed to turn that around this past season with his first two interceptions. He has good size and solid athleticism to be an outside cornerback, and having bloodlines to former receiver Joe Horn is also an aid in his case.

This cornerback class has quite a few quality options for the Steelers to consider in the first or second round, and Horn may have the highest potential of that mix. He will need a year or two before reaching his best play, but the team should be able to work with that. Even if the team keeps Haden, they could slide Steven Nelson in as the slot corner during subpackage and allow Horn to play on the outside. If one of the slot corners are retained with Haden being cut, then Horn is positioned to start on the outside earlier on. At the end of the day, if the team goes defense in round one, it will likely be on a cornerback to replenish this depth chart.