The Pittsburgh Steelers have eight draft selections to make their team better and fill the voids left behind in free agency.
With so many starters leaving in free agency, this team still has a lot of work to do before the season begins. Some holes are littered across the entire roster and the draft will need to be the answer to this team’s turnover. It will be no easy task but the Steelers are known for their drafting prowess so that is something working in their favor going forward.
This mock draft does include one trade for the team as they initially came into this draft with eight selections entirely but after this trade, they gain an extra pick rounding up their selections to nine. There are many needs but some are much more needed to fill than others and that is how this mock draft will go. The black and gold normally refrain from drafting by need but this year could be different with the lack of depth and starting-caliber players at some positions.
TRADE: Steelers receive picks 28 and 105, Saints receive pick 24.
Round 1 (Pick 28): Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
This would be an amazing deal for the Steelers as they add a third-round pick to their arsenal and the Saints only give up a compensatory choice to move up four slots. Pittsburgh is still able to get one of the best tackle prospects in this draft with Teven Jenkins out of Oklahoma State. His ability is what makes him one of the best prospects for the tackle position in this draft class.
The biggest knock on Jenkins is his arm length as that could potentially hinder him at the next level. His game is very promising and with solid coaching, he could develop into an even better player.
Round 2 (pick 55): Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
With Steven Nelson leaving the team, this need could catapult even higher. Mike Hilton has already left the team in free agency so the need is already there. With Nelson being cut from the Steelers this will be a high draft choice for the team come April.
Newsome is one of the best and most physical cover corners in this class. He wowed during his time at Northwestern and that has made him a day-two choice in most mock drafts. He would be a nice selection at this point and one the team will need to do if Nelson goes elsewhere. He is raw with limited experience starting in the Big Ten conference. He has only started 18 games total but he is a solid press corner that can cover one on one.
Round 3 (pick 87): Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami
Brevin Jordan is one of the best tight ends in this draft class. His size and athletic ability make him the biggest weapon coming out of college. That strength is so good that he is steady on draft boards even though his blocking ability is sub-par. If he can grow his blocking then this will become a great selection in the third round.
Eric Ebron is still on the team but there is minimal depth behind him, but getting Jordan here will neglect their need to find a blocking tight end. If the team can sign Jesse James and add this player, it will be a solid group at the position going forward.
Round 3 (pick 105 via trade): Quinn Meinerz, OC, Wisconsin-Whitewater
This pick was gained in the trade back with the Saints. The Steelers are now able to nab a promising center prospect in the ladder stages of day two. Quinn Meinerz rose to fame with the notorious photo taken of him during the Senior Bowl practices where his stomach was hanging out of his jersey.
He comes from a small school but he was more than able to take care of business all week long at the Senior Bowl practices and the game. Adding him here is great value and it finds the starter at the center position when this upcoming season starts.
Round 4 (pick 128): Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh
Patrick Jones II out of Pittsburgh had a nice showing at the Senior Bowl and that was after a very nice collegiate career with the Panthers. He shined in those great defenses in the blue and yellow colors that the team wears on Saturdays. His ability to get after the passer is something special and he reminds a lot of Bud Dupree. His build and size are a nice comparison and the way he can fly past tackles.
Jones would be amazing depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith when the final roster is made up. Getting Jones here is another nice selection as he fell a little in this scenario.
Round 4 (pick 140): Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Dylan Moses was expected to be a first-round selection if he entered last year’s draft but he decided to stay another season at Alabama. Unfortunately for him, it did not work out after tearing his ACL just before their season opener. This could cause many concerns for teams across the league but with some extra picks, the Steelers can take a small gamble here.
Moses could have lost speed from the injury but as long as he rehabbed nicely then he should still get back to his normal self. This could be a steal if he returns to form and could become a starter alongside Devin Bush on Sundays.
Round 6 (pick 216): Jeret Patterson, RB, Buffalo
Many mock drafts have the Steelers selecting a running back early and that could very well be the case when the draft happens. In this scenario, the team decided to go in another direction and wait to add to this position in the sixth round by selecting Jeret Patterson.
The black and gold have been scouting the highly productive running back out of Buffalo. The franchise loves their MAC players and getting Patterson would only continue that infatuation. He is small in stature and that could be concerning for many but he has run for over 2,700 yards over the past two seasons as a Bull.
Round 7 (pick 245): Jonathan Marshall, DL, Arkansas
With Tyson Alualu leaving in free agency, the need for a Nose Tackle is there. It has been common over the past couple of drafts that the Steelers choose a defensive lineman in the later rounds and they do it again here. Jonathan Marshall is a monster of a man that can help clog rush lanes but he is mostly just a prototypical Nose Tackle. He will not do anything too special but if he can come in on run downs and stop the gaps from happening then this is a good selection in round seven.
Round 7 (pick 254): Trey Dean III, DB, Florida
Trey Dean III is more of a project but adding some competition to the bottom of the depth chart in training camp is very important. He could play corner or transition to safety at the next level so that is to be determined. Getting some help to bring some fire to the guys at the bottom of the roster throughout the pre-season will be important and Dean could do that and potentially fight for a roster spot on special teams. His size is super interesting as he stands at 6’3 and nearly 200 pounds. That is very interesting and many will want to try and mold that frame into something special.
The Steelers will need to have a successful draft class in 2021 if they want to be a good ball club in the future. This class is an all-around solid group going forward and one the black and gold would love to make a reality.