Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh doubles-up on offensive line help early

Round 4 (pick 129): Cameron Sample, EDGE, Tulane

The Steelers had incredible success taking a non-Power 5 pass rusher in the mid-rounds last year with Alex Highsmith. Why not try their luck again? At 6’2 1/2” and 274 pounds, Cameron Sample has a squatty build, and some 4-3 teams may want him to gain weight and rush the passer from the interior. For the Steelers, Sample could backup Watt and Highsmith as well as potentially rush from the interior on obvious passing downs.

The one thing that really separates Sample from a small-school player like Alex Highsmith is college production. While Highsmith’s production at Charlotte was off the charts (21.5 TFL, 15.5 sacks as a senior), Sample’s was very pedestrian (7.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks as a senior).

This lack of production is a big concern – especially playing for a school like Tulane. However, Sample dominated in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl and has warranted consideration as high as the fourth round. Sample is the type of pass rusher you’d like to take a chance on during day three of the NFL Draft, and the Steelers could desperately use more quality depth at the position.