With the Steelers overall underwhelming so far in 2021, here is an early mock draft for a team with an eye on the future.
While the Steelers still face a plethora of challenges this year, the 2022 offseason will present yet another tough challenge for the team. Another round of talent is set to depart while the team will be looking to improve upon a roster that could use a few solid pieces.
While a lot will change between now and the draft, this early mock draft hopes to address some of the bigger needs on the team and work around their lack of draft picks.
Logistics of this Steelers mock draft
In terms of pure draft capital, it is no secret that the Steelers don’t have a lot. After trading away their fourth-sixth-round picks, the team enters the draft with only five guaranteed picks. That said, with the free-agent loss of Bud Dupree, the team is relatively locked into a third-round compensatory pick. That will be included in this mock.
The compensatory fifth-round pick the team was slated to have is more questionable. Ahkello Witherspoon hasn’t played much, which means he may not end up qualifying. The same goes for Joe Haeg. While still up in the air, I don’t think the team will ultimately land the additional fifth-round pick. Thus, the team has a first, second, two-thirds, and two seventh-round picks in this mock.
As for some picks, many will point out that this draft ignores offensive tackle and quarterback early. For the quarterback, I don’t believe the team is in a good position to draft one in 2022, thus that position is ignored this year. As for tackle, Dan Moore has flashed some ability while Zach Banner is being banked on as their starting right tackle. If either flounder down the stretch, this mock would change, but as of now, there are greater needs. With all that said, here is an early look at a 2022 Steelers mock draft.
Round 1
As stated already, I do not have the Steelers targeting a quarterback in this mock. While the team will need a new face to the franchise, in no way will a rookie quarterback be put into a position to succeed if drafted next year. Instead, the team should use their limited draft resources to build what the team lacks and prepare themselves for a rookie quarterback in the following offseason.
One of the biggest positions of weakness on the roster is the line. While the team will likely give Kendrick Green another season to develop, Trai Turner seems like a potential “one-and-done” for the team. Thus, adding a big man in the middle makes the most sense with the team’s first-round pick. Kenyon Green out of Texas A&M fits that mold well.
He fits all of the usual desires for a first-round pick. He comes from a big program, has great production, and is an underclassman. While he is the top interior line prospect right now, guards have a tendency to fall in the draft. Assuming the Steelers are picking somewhere in the teens, a shortfall due to positional value would allow the team the chance to draft him.
He would be a plug and play guard from day one and would give the Steelers a trio of athletic and young interior linemen to create the core of this line. Green is powerful from the point of attack and can move well in space. He would be a huge add for the team and would provide rushing lanes for Najee Harris for the next few seasons. The line needs to get better, so adding a talented guard like Green would go a long way in turning this unit into a strength.
Round 2
Some picks in a draft just feel right early on. For example, the Steelers and Najee Harris were linked incredibly early in the draft process, and it was no surprise when the team took Harris in the first round. Arguably even more obvious is the link the team has with USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, who is the nephew of now Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu.
While not quite the pro prospect that his uncle was, Pola-Mao should still be intriguing to the team. With Terrell Edmunds set to become a free agent next offseason, the team will need a new strong safety. Pola-Mao has incredible size and would be a natural fit there. As well, he should test as an extremely athletic safety. Add that in with his size and bloodlines and the Steelers would have a tough time looking the other way.
Pola-Mao wouldn’t be ready to start right away as a rookie, but a veteran such as Karl Joseph could man that role while the rookie developed as a third safety playing close to the line of scrimmage. His weakest trait is his tackling, but that can be improved upon. Add in his weight concerns (he is listed at 205 pounds despite being listed at 6’4) and you have a prospect that will likely be a day three pick.
Injuries have also been a concern, as is the fact that as of now his sophomore season is his best statistical season on books. There is some level of projection with Pola-Mao, but the prospect is too good of a fit to pass on in the second round. The Steelers will have to develop him, but this is a pick that could pay dividends for this secondary down the road.
Round 3
The Steelers saw two of their starting cornerbacks depart last offseason, and while the team has found a way to still field a solid group, Joe Haden is entering a contract year. While the veteran has been key in the rebuild of this secondary, his age makes the odds of resigning him slim. Thus, the Steelers will have a massive hole at cornerback next season.
Ideally, the team can sign a free agent to fill that need, but a rookie should still be brought in to keep this unit deep and to develop for the future. While a natural slot corner would make sense here, I didn’t find a third-round guy that I was thrilled with. Thus, Virginia Tech’s Jermaine Waller fills the void. The tall cornerback has flashed some ball skills, but he needs to develop more at the next level.
In particular, his physicality is regularly tested. While a taller corner, he doesn’t match up well against big-bodied receivers. He needs to get some more play strength to hold his own against some of the NFL’s physical freaks at receiver. On the plus side, he is solid in man coverage and has regularly been left on an island while at Virginia Tech.
The Steelers track record for drafting corners hasn’t been strong, but Waller would present the team with a prospect relatively sound in coverage but lacking in some of the physical departments. Assuming the team addresses this position in free agency, he wouldn’t be required to start right away. He could sit and bulk up to be a better matchup with bigger receivers.
Round 3
The Steelers are about to see what life without J.J. Smith-Schuster will be like, as the receiver is lost for the season due to a shoulder injury suffered against the Broncos. More than likely, the talented slot receiver has played his last down with the team. That means a rookie will likely be brought in to try and replicate what he offered to the team.
A player who fits the mold of the big slot would be Dontario Drummond out of Ole Miss. The junior is off to his best start of any season, as the new look Ole Miss offense has relied on him catching the ball. His size fluctuates depending on where you look, but he seems to be somewhere around 6’1 and between 210-220 pounds. He would slide in perfectly as the big slot receiver.
He can make the tough catch over the middle and be a threat in the red zone for the Steelers. He wouldn’t be called upon to be the top guy from the first snap but would instead supplement the receivers that the team already has. He has deceptive athleticism as well and will likely test as a better athlete than Smith-Schuster. He would be a solid add for a team that will need to replicate Smith-Schuster’s production out of the slot.
Round 7
Rounding out the draft, the Steelers look for two developmental players to fill some potential depth gaps. Bernhard Raimann is the first of the two selections, as the team tries to fill their gaps at tackle. While I don’t believe the team will ultimately draft a tackle high due to Dan Moore and Zach Banner, a developmental player would be logical. Raimann possesses good size and strength to eventually be a swing tackle.
The problems with him right now are technique and competition concerns. He has played well against inferior competition, but he will have to prove himself as a pro. He would benefit from a season or two of sitting and improving his technique as well. He is brought in as a rookie with the expectation that he sits most weeks as he needs some time to hone his craft.
The Steelers finish their draft looking for some edge depth. It can’t be overstated how valuable having so much edge depth is for the team right now. That said, Melvin Ingram is only under contract for one season, and at his age, he may ultimately only play this one season with the team. Thus, Randy Charlton gets the nod as the final pick.
While not a sack artist, Charlton is a bigger edge presence that can hold his own against the run. He will never be an elite sack guy, but he could chip in a bit on special teams early and develop into a rotational player on defense. He would be best suited as a number four option in year one as he tries to make an impact on special teams. The Steelers will need some more edge help next season, so a late-round pick on a potential long-term backup makes sense here.
While there is still plenty of season to be played, keeping an eye on the draft prospects in 2022 is never a bad idea. The Steelers will have quite a few needs, and not all can be filled through the draft alone. That said, this is my best stab at a midseason mock for the team right now.