The Steelers have cemented the 20th overall pick in the draft, so here is an early look at five of the most likely prospects to be selected there.
The Steelers locked themselves into the 20th overall pick when they lost to the Chiefs in the Wildcard round of the playoffs. The talk now is shifting to the offseason, and there is no more exciting of a time than the draft.
The team should have a myriad of players to choose from with their top pick, but now that we know right where it is, we can have a better idea of who will be in the team’s range.
The Steelers draft projections will shift
It is still extremely early in the draft process, so expecting this list to remain consistent over the next few months is unlikely. However, looking over the names that are currently being projected in the pick number 20 range gives us an idea of who should be there once the draft rolls around. The combine will change some things, but right now you can still get a general idea of who will and won’t be sitting at pick number 20.
How this works is I used The Draft Networks big board (they do a good job of updating rankings based on perceived value) and anyone after 15th overall could be included on this list. For those of you hoping to see Tyler Linderbaum here, he is currently ranked at 14th overall.
Getting to the playoffs may have cost the Steelers a chance to land him. With all of that said, here is an early look at who the Steelers may pick in the first round.
Steelers could draft Brisker
Draft Network Rank: 23rd overall
Jaquan Brisker should be a familiar name to anyone that has followed along with Penn State over the past few seasons. Brisker has been patrolling the secondary there since 2019 and has brought the tenacity to succeed as a defender in the NFL. He has served in a variety of roles since joining the Nittany Lions, and that versatility should make him appealing come draft time.
Where Brisker really excels at is run defense and zone coverage as a safety. Those two traits would make him a flexible free or strong safety in the Steelers scheme. Considering Terrell Edmunds is likely to depart this offseason, Brisker could step right in as his replacement. He can play close to the line in run support and as a blitzer as well. He could and would wear multiple hats for this defense.
An underrated element of his game is his ability to line up in the slot and cover tight ends in man coverage. While not his best trait, he has shown a willingness to take on these assignments. He is lacking in the turnover department, but that is usually a fluid stat and could be improved upon in the pro game. As well, his athleticism isn’t anything special on tape, which could further lower his value. That all said, his tenacity and aggressiveness would be a great addition to a Steelers defense that will need a new strong safety this season.
Steelers could draft Dean
Draft Network Rank: 19th overall
Nakobe Dean ascended into one of the nation’s top linebackers this season en route to winning the Butkus Award and National Championship while at Georgia. The Steelers, meanwhile, saw a disappointing season from both of their starting off-ball linebackers as Joe Schobert and Devin Bush struggled to play well. The team may have to look for a new linebacker this offseason, and Dean would fit the bill of what the team wants.
He was as close to a complete linebacker in college as you could hope for. He can fill run lanes and is gap sound as well as being able to stay on the field on passing downs. If anything, pass defense is his strength, as he has the coverage tools to beat running backs and some tight ends in coverage. As well, he is a good blitzer, an element the Steelers lost with their linebackers this season.
The biggest issue with Dean is his size, as he is on the smaller side for a linebacker. While some will write him off for that (especially after Bush’s struggles), keep in mind that Dean has shown better reads than Bush did in college. That said, pulling linemen will be able to use their strength to hold Dean out of plays. He will have to learn how to shed if he wants to be successful. That said, the team could finally get their Ryan Shazier replacement if they took Dean in the draft.
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.
Steelers could draft Gardner
Draft Network Rank: 20th overall
The Steelers outside cornerbacks were tested and burned in the Wildcard game. With Joe Haden likely out given his age, the team could realistically target a strong, man coverage outside cornerback. Ahmad Gardner, nicknamed “Sauce”, is one of the best coverage corners in this upcoming draft. He is an instinctual cornerback with good ball skills and coverage ability.
Since becoming a starter with the Bearcats, Gardner has essentially locked down whatever side of the field he was guarding. You can put him on an island and expect him to win regularly. The Steelers are severely lacking that in a cornerback right now. As well, he has the size and athleticism the team covets in a cornerback, further adding to his value to the team.
The biggest question the team may have with him is his level of competition. While the Bearcats have been one of the top college teams over the past few seasons, they don’t play in a notable conference. That said, Gardner has still faced off against some of the top talent and receivers that college has to offer. If the Steelers want to have their aggressive secondary again, Gardner would be a no-brainer at pick 20.
Steelers could draft Pickett
Draft Network Rank: 18th overall
Everyone’s favorite quarterback in the draft, Kenny Pickett has seen his draft stock shoot up during this previous season. More than likely, he isn’t done either, as there is a real chance that Pickett is the first quarterback off the board and goes somewhere inside of the top 10. Right now, though, he is squarely on the Steelers’ radar as he is projected to go only two spots before the 20th pick as of this writing.
Pickett does a lot of things well as a quarterback. He has a great command of his team, is incredibly smart, and has great accuracy. Pickett wasn’t seen as a top prospect before this season, and it isn’t like one thing changed and suddenly he was as great as he was. He was working with the same players and coordinator as before and developed his own game into what it was. Along with the sharp accuracy and smarts, he has more than enough mobility to move around the pocket and make plays on the ground.
His downside mainly consists of his aggressiveness and arm strength. He can take some forced shots to receivers that aren’t open which will lead to interceptions at the pro level. While his arm strength isn’t bad, he lacks the huge arm you see some of the top quarterbacks possess.
As well, and no discredit to him, but the Steelers aren’t really ready for a rookie quarterback at the moment, making the odds of him being the guy less likely. That said, if he falls to their pick and the team is dead set on a quarterback, Picket may be their guy.
The Steelers draft slot is now set, and that means the talk needs to shift to who will be available. While it is still extremely early in the process, these prospects make the most sense. Each would have an instant role with the Steelers if they were selected.