With the Steelers’ first selection in the books, these are the players the team has to consider moving up for to take on the second day of the draft.
With the second day of the draft set to begin, the Steelers still have a plethora of holes that will need to be filled. While some decent talent could fall to them at pick 55, now may be the time to get a little aggressive and move up for a top prospect. Considering it is far cheaper to move up in the second round than the first, going up a few spots to secure one of these top options would be a wise move. Here are the four draft prospects the Steelers should move up for.
Creed Humphrey
The Steelers got their running back in the first, so now it is time for them to address their actual biggest position of need. With the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey this offseason, the team needs a new man to lead their line. B.J. Finney was a fine signing and can start in a pinch, but he doesn’t have any long-term hope as a starter. No centers were taken on night one though, meaning top option Creed Humphrey is still available. If he falls into the early forties, the team needs to make a move for him.
Humphrey measured in at a great size for a center and his athleticism was off the charts. While he isn’t a carbon copy of Pouncey, he plays with similar explosiveness. If the Steelers wanted a similar style of center to Pouncey, Humphrey is their guy. He is ready to start day one, and while Finney would enter camp as the starter, it would be surprising if a player like Humphrey didn’t unseat him. He is the best center prospect in this class and should be a trade-up target if he falls a bit into the second round.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
There was good reason that the Steelers should have taken Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with their original first-round pick, as the Notre Dame linebacker is a rare breed of player. While he would lineup as a linebacker, he would have the athleticism and coverage ability to cover receivers if need be. For a defense that lost quite a few pieces this season, Owusu-Koramoah could have served as a versatile chess piece.
It will be interesting to see how his stock fluctuates now that he has fallen out of the first round. It seems far-fetched that he makes it to pick 55, and honestly, it would be shocking if he falls out of the top-40. If he does continue to tumble though, making a trade-up for him makes sense for the Steelers. They got their top running back, now they can get a freaky chess piece to use on defense.
While inside linebacker isn’t the top need for the team, Owusu-Koramoah is a rare enough type of a player to still add to this roster. Next to Devin Bush, the Steelers would have two of the most athletic and talented linebackers in the league. He would be able to see the field in situations that play to his strength in year one before taking on a traditional starting role next year. If he continues to fall a little, the Steelers should make a move for him.
Pat Freiermuth
Besides center, one of the Steelers top needs is a capable number two tight end that can develop into a number one tight end. While Eric Ebron will be the starter this season, it seems likely he is gone next year. With no current in-house option capable of becoming a starter, the team will likely have to draft one. Luckily for them, Pat Freiermuth would fit the mold of a more complete tight end.
Freiermuth isn’t the receiving threat that Kyle Pitts is, but he has a more well-rounded game. He can make the tough combative catches, score in the red zone, and chip in as a blocker. While not the complete tight end that Heath Miller was, he has that kind of a vibe to him. Not an elite athlete or receiver, he does the tough and gritty work and can provide a security blanket for whoever is throwing him the ball.
The issue is, Freiermuth is seemingly the next best tight end prospect in this class. With so many teams needing a capable tight end, there is a good chance Freiermuth doesn’t make it to pick 55. If he continues to slide down the board, the Steelers should look to move up for him. This shouldn’t be a drastic move up, but if he slides past say pick 45, it could be a good time to go up and get him. He would slot in as the backup and blocker year one while he develops and then takes over as the starter next season.
Asante Samuel Jr.
One could have made the argument that the Steelers should have taken Greg Newsome II in the first round given their need at corner, and the position should now be squarely a target in the second round. One player that the Steelers showed considerable interest in was Florida St. corner Asante Samuel Jr. He would instantly start in the slot year one and the hope would be that he could move to the outside next year to replace Joe Haden.
Samuel is sticky in man coverage which is a must for a Steelers corner. While he would have been a slight reach in the first round, it seems unlikely that he falls to pick 55. His size concerns may keep some teams away from him, but with so many secondary needs in the NFL, Samuel seems like a lock to go in the top-40. If the Steelers can find a willing trade partner, they should move up for him.
As of now, Cameron Sutton was set to start on the outside and move to the slot in sub-packages. That means either James Pierre or Justin Layne would be penciled in to start on the outside in those packages. While both of those options are intriguing, they would be a major risk to start with little competition. If the team can get a capable slot corner like Samuel via a trade back, it should be a no-brainer.
While day two will have plenty of twists and curves, the Steelers still have plenty of holes to fill. After addressing the running back position in round one, the team needs to be aggressive in filling some of their other needs. These four players would represent great options for the team even if they required a trade-up in order to get.