Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh takes an interesting route on day two

Pittsburgh could go a number of directions in the NFL Draft in April, but here’s why I have them taking an unusual route in my latest Steelers mock draft. 

This would have been the perfect year for the Pittsburgh Steelers to have a surplus of draft capital to work with. Ben Roethlisberger is on his way out, and the team has showcased their lack of talent at a handful of positions.

While I am always an advocate of the ‘BPA’ approach (best player available) when it comes to the NFL Draft, historically, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have prioritized positional needs over the best value on the board. Here’s why I have them taking an interesting route on day two of my latest 2022 Steelers mock draft:

Steelers first-round pick: QB Sam Howell

I know Steelers fans have a mixed opinion on North Carolina quarterback, Sam Howell, but I’m not opposed to this selection. Obviously, Pittsburgh is just as much in the market for a quarterback as any team out there. While there are a few other names you might prefer (like Matt Corral or Kenny Pickett), Howell is a young quarterback with a lot of tools to work with.

His upside makes this a worthwhile gamble in the first round. Howell has an elite arm that can cut through the wind. He can put it on a rope or allow it to sail 60 yards at the flick of a wrist. He also fits the mobility threshold Tomlin has been stressing during press conferences this year, and Howell is a threat to both extend the play and beat you on the ground.

Since his freshman season in 2019, there were many who believed that Howell would end up being the top pick in the NFL Draft, however, he hasn’t progressed at the rate that we had hoped. Still, he’s an infinitely better option than Mason Rudolph and the leftover scraps you will find in free agency this coming offseason.