Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh goes CB first before attacking OL

Round 6:

With the Steelers set to lose Bud Dupree in free agency, adding some depth to the outside linebacker group will be a must. While Alex Highsmith will be the starter going forward, additional depth would go a long way in keeping this unit a strength. Shaka Toney would be a great late-round pick given his pass-rushing ability. While never the main threat at Penn State, Toney was always a potent pass rusher.

The biggest issue he will likely face as a player is his weight. He plays in the 240-ish range, and the team tends to like their pass rushers to be more towards 250-260. While he could certainly bulk up, it could limit his explosiveness that has made him such a good pass rusher. Even if he plays lighter, he will likely never be counted on to be a full-time starter. As a situational pass rusher and a special team’s ace, Toney could be a solid depth option later in the draft.

While I’ve been a proponent of the Steelers drafting a tight end early in the draft if it doesn’t work out that way finding a potential long-term number two option would be the next best bet. Kenny Yeboah isn’t much of an athlete, but he has solid hands and can block well, especially in the run game.

While he will never likely ascend to the role of full-time starter, he could end up becoming a valuable number two and serve as a decent blocker. Assuming the Steelers keep Eric Ebron, which seems to be a safe bet if they are drafting a tight end this late, then adding more of a blocking option would be the better bet. Yeboah isn’t a superstar, but he should be a good reserve and blocker for a team trying to re-establish the run.