The Steelers are going to have some difficult choices this April. Here’s what I have them doing in my latest 2021 seven-round NFL mock draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected a defensive player in the first round in seven straight years (eight if you count their 2019 trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick). While trend tells us that defense could be a possibility yet again based on the high priority that Mike Tomlin and his crew place on that side of the ball, Pittsburgh’s roster tells us that offense will be the pick.
It’s been a while since the Steelers have had this many sizeable holes with players retiring and a handful more set to leave in free agency. There are a number of routes the team could go early on, but here’s what I have Pittsburgh doing in my latest seven-round NFL mock draft:
Round 1 (pick 24): Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma
With the official retirement of Maurkice Pouncey, center becomes the biggest need on the team. If Pittsburgh can find enough money after offseason cuts, it’s possible they could bring in a veteran to help fill out the position; however, it’s unlikely that they will be able to pay top dollar for a center in free agency. Because of this, Oklahoma’s Creed Humphry is now very much in play at pick 24.
Humphrey isn’t a great athlete, but he has put together a solid body of work as a starter over the past three years, and he was thoroughly impressive at the Senior Bowl – dominating interior defenders in one-on-one drills. While Pittsburgh may prefer to get a player like Humphrey in the second round or in a trade-back, they may not want to risk having a hole at the position in 2021. Humphrey isn’t necessarily undeserving of a first-round selection, and the left-handed center should be a long-time starter at the next level.
Round 2 (pick 56): Jackson Carman, OT, Clemson
I wouldn’t put it past the Steelers to have interest in a player like Jackson Carman as early as the first round. While he’s not on anyone’s day-one radar yet, he checks all of the boxes the Steelers typically look for in a first-round pick.
Carman might appear to have the body of a guard at 6’5” and 345 pounds, but he moves remarkably well for a man his size. The big left tackle has been Trevor Lawrence’s blindside protector over the past two years and has done a solid job against some good competition. In addition, Pittsburgh will love the fact that he is a true junior in an offensive line class full of seniors.
Jackson has some position flexibility to him due to his size and strength and could make a quality guard in the NFL if things don’t work out on the outside. Still, with Alejandro Villanueva’s future with the Steelers up in the air, Pittsburgh needs to find a tackle early in the NFL Draft and Jackson Carman could prove to be a very solid second-round pick.
Round 3 (pick 87): Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina
I’m not usually a big fan of drafting running backs, and taking a player like Najee Harris in the first round would make me sick. However, Michael Carter has quickly become one of my favorite prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. North Carolina had a dominant rushing duo of carter and Javonte Williams in 2020. Though Williams (5’10”, 220lbs), has the desired build Pittsburgh typically looks for to carry the load, he may not make it back to the Steelers second-round pick.
Carter could honestly end up being the better running back of the two. But at 5’8” and 202 pounds, he may not be exactly what Pittsburgh is looking for. The Steelers did, however, just take a smaller back in Anthony McFarland last year (5’8”, 208 lbs), but Carter is a much more complete player.
While Pittsburgh typically goes with big, bruising backs, this strategy really hasn’t paid off in recent years, and Matt Canada has had great success in the past with players like McFarland. Michael Carter averaged an astonishing 8.0 yards per carry last year and 10.7 yards per reception. He would be an absolute weapon on the Steelers.
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.
Round 4 (pick 141): Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford
If you want an exciting playmaker with upside on day three of the draft, Simi Fehoko could be your guy. Listed at 6’4” and 227 pounds, Fehoko has a similar size and athletic profile as Chase Claypool (which is really saying something). Reportedly hand-timed at a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, the Stanford product turned heads and he finished his college career with a remarkable game that included 16 catches for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In a nutshell, Fehoko was never a dominant college player and he earned half of his 2020 production in that one impressive game. Still, if the Steelers want to take a chance on a size-speed guy, Simi Fehoko fits the bill. He would be a special teams player to begin his career, with a chance to develop into something more.
Round 6 (pick 209): Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue
With Vince Williams’ career with the Steelers potentially coming to a close, it’s only right that Pittsburgh goes out and drafts another sixth-round player that would do him justice. Derrick Barnes is essentially a carbon-copy of Williams. At 6′ 1/2” and 245 pounds, Barnes is a downhill, rush linebacker, who likes to lay a beating at or behind the line of scrimmage. He compiled 25.0 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks in his collegiate career.
Round 7 (pick 240): Luke Farrell, TE, Ohio State
With eight draft choices and a need at the position, I would be shocked if the Steelers did not address tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft. In fact, it’s entirely possible that they could do so much early than the seventh round. However, with so many other needs and a drop in talent after the first three tight ends, I have Pittsburgh waiting to address tight end until late in the draft.
Luke Farrell isn’t a flashy player and he’s not going to do a lot after the catch. However, Pittsburgh may need another tight end who can play inline and be a reliable blocker for them. Assuming the Steelers bring in at least one more player this offseason, Farrell would likely compete with Zach Gentry for the third tight end role.
Round 7 (pick 249): Ali Fayad, EDGE, Western Michigan
If you are going to take an edge defender late in the draft, I prefer it to be a small-school player with good production. Ali Fayad played both on the edge and in the interior for Western Michigan, but he did so at 6’2” and 255 pounds. Fayad had 35.5 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks in college. In 2020, he earned 6.0 TFL and 4.0 sacks in just 4 games. He may not have all the traits you desire, but he could compete for depth at edge defender.
It’s still too early to tell exactly which positions Pittsburgh will be drafting in the first few rounds, but I would have to assume that center will be one of their top priorities if they don’t fill the position in free agency. Stay with us for more draft coverage and follow me on Twitter at @TommyJaggi.