Steelers final mock draft: Pittsburgh fills most pressing needs early

Steelers mock draft round 4: Shaun Wade

Shaun Wade is a perfect example of why the Steelers probably won’t pick many (if any) opt-out players this year. While Wade himself was not opt-out, we saw a huge digression in his play this season, and it’s for this reason that Pittsburgh will likely be scared away from taking opt-out players this year.

Despite his less than stellar season in 2020, Wade is still worth a gamble in the fourth round this year. When he played the slot in 2019, he was much better, but he was routinely picked on last year. Still, Wade has the size and athletic profile to eventually compete for a starting gig. He’s probably best suited as a nickel player in the NFL.

Steelers mock draft round 4: Daelin Hayes

Daelin Hayes is another player that the Steelers have reportedly met with this offseason, and he could be on their radar in the fourth round. Hayes has a similar size profile to Alex Highsmith last year, and he tested as an above-average athlete. Unfortunately, Hayes is a fifth-year senior who combined to play just 12 games over the past two seasons due to injuries.

Still, Hayes presents solid value at this point. With next to no depth at outside linebacker after T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, Hayes would be on the fast track to earning a role as the first edge defender off the bench in the rotation. His experience at Notre Dame should help him make a smooth transition to the NFL.