Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh finds running back help early

Round 2 (pick 55): Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa

If the Steelers are looking for a tackle in the mold of Alejandro Villanueva, then look no further than Iowa State’s Spencer Brown. Standing at 6’8 1/2” and 314 pounds, Brown certainly has the frame and length for the offensive tackle position. However, he could be limited to being a right tackle in the NFL.

Though this pick might seem a little rich for the second round, Brown had a very impressive showing at the Senior Bowl as he displayed the ability to move his feet and maintain leverage in one-on-one drills. With a run on tackles early, he could be the best option for Pittsburgh if they address the position in round two. Brown would be a developmental swing tackle with the expectation of becoming a full-time starter a year or two down the road.

Round 3 (pick 87): Hunter Long, TE, Boston College

I really think Matt Canada would love to have an athletic ‘move’ tight end who can block very well in space like Tommy Tremble, but the Notre Dame product went just ahead of Pittsburgh’s third-round pick in my most recent simulation. Hunter Long is not a bad consolation prize.

At 6’5” and 254 pounds, Long is more in the mold of a traditional ‘Y’ tight end, but he’s not a violent blocker. Still, he is surprisingly good at finding the soft spot in the zone and he could give the Steelers their do-it-all tight end they’ve been searching for.