Steelers 2022 mock draft: Pittsburgh prioritizes OL and secondary

Looking at the draft compensation

According to Over the Cap, the Steelers should have a 4th Rd Compensatory pick for OLB, Bud Dupree. That pick may rise to a 3rd Rd pick during the course of the season as Dupree accrues more snap counts. They might have canceled out the 5th Rd pick for OG, Matt Feiler, with either the OT, Joe Haeg, or CB, Ahkello Witherspoon signing. Again, it may come down to the snap count.

Zach Banner has been reactivated which will cut down Haeg’s snap count. Ahkello Witherspoon has barely seen the field, so, I’m including the 5th rounder, for now. That should give the Steelers seven picks, overall, even though they’ve traded away the 4th, 5th and 6th round picks of next year’s draft.

Steelers 1st-round pick: Ohio State OT Thayer Munford

I had Munford in my first mock and I’m stickin’ with him. He has very good hand use, mirroring, and kick slide with good change of direction skills. He can be a road grader in run blocking. Munford shows plenty of athleticism for pulling and trapping. He looks for work once he’s dealt with his primary assignment, and gets to the second level.

Munford moved inside to left guard this season so a teammate could get on the field. That shows he is a good teammate but Munford is an offensive tackle for the pros.

His technique greatly improved from sophomore to junior year. He had back surgery in 2018 and looked much better in 2019. He’s an underrated player who posted a 91.8 Pro Football Focus grade in 2020. Munford should be a ‘set and forget’ player at left tackle.