5 draft prospects Steelers may be able to select at pick 20

Steelers could draft Cross

Draft Network Rank: 17th overall

The only linemen on this list (most of the top interior guys will likely be gone before pick 20), Charles Cross has everything the Steelers want in a tackle. He is young, comes from a good school in the SEC, and has the tape to back up being a top pick in this draft. While not the top tackle in this class, Cross has all of the traits of being a great left tackle in the NFL.

What makes Cross such a good prospect is his athleticism and knowledge of edge defenders. He does a good job of predicting where a pass rusher is going to go and stopping them with his size. As well, his quick first step allows him to get leverage sooner and take edge defenders out of the play. His technique will need some work, as his footwork can be a tad sloppy, but he is a relatively polished pass-blocking tackle.

His run blocking is another story, as he doesn’t have the functional strength or power to push defenders out of the way. While he should get stronger in the NFL (he has the frame to add some weight), he will likely always be a better pass blocker than a run blocker. That makes him a natural left tackle, and considering Dan Moore’s strength is his run blocking, he could do well by moving to the right side. Cross would be hard to pass on if he fell to the Steelers.