Steelers draft: Why QB Kellen Mond could be on Pittsburgh’s radar
By Tommy Jaggi
Kellen Mond is a name that is starting to draw some buzz. Here’s why he could be a surprise candidate for the Steelers in the NFL Draft.
Though Ben Roethlisberger is set to come back for what looks to be one final season, there’s no doubt that finding the next franchise quarterback is something that is going to weigh heavily on the Steelers this offseason. While Pittsburgh could elect to go an entirely different route in the NFL Draft, they know that they will only be kicking the can further down the road by doing so.
The 2021 draft class is widely regarded as one of the best groups of quarterbacks we have seen. Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields are two of the highest-rated prospects to ever come out of high school while Zach Wilson’s dominant 2020 season could see him going as high as the number two overall pick this April to the New York Jets. Meanwhile, Trey Lance has the appearance of a prototype developmental prospect with his tools and athletic traits.
After the top four, Mac Jones and Kyle Trask are players that could be on the Steelers radar during the draft, and there are clearly some mixed feelings about this. What about Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond? Recently, there have been whispers that Mond could go as high as the late first round. While I think that’s a stretch, here are three reasons why he could be on Pittsburgh’s radar during the NFL Draft:
Loads of experience against great competition
When it comes to drafting the quarterback position, the Steelers typically look for players with loads of experience. Mason Rudolph, for example, started three full seasons in college and an addition 3 games as a freshman (42 games in all). Mond has even more college experience, as he has played in 46 games.
In addition, Mond was doing so at the highest level of competition in all of college football. His SEC schedule saw him playing some of the best teams the NCAA had to offer – including facing National Championship winners in Alabama. Against the best team in college football, Mond managed to put up 318 yards and 3 touchdowns. This no doubt caught the Steelers attention.