Steelers reach way down draft boards for OL in 2022 NFL mock draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are desperate for help along the offensive line, but here’s why The Draft Network has them reaching down their board for OL help in 2022.

The Steelers have plenty of needs to address in the 2022 NFL Draft, and not nearly enough capital to fill them all. Before the season even ended, draft experts were busy mocking quarterbacks and offensive linemen to Pittsburgh in the first round. It’s safe to say that they are doing the same now that they are locked in with the 20th overall pick heading into the offseason.

It doesn’t take a football expert to figure out why the Steelers might be interested in addressing both quarterback and the offensive line this offseason. Currently, the unspectacular Mason Rudolph is the only quarterback under contract in Pittsburgh for the 2022 season, while the offensive line was in shambles during 2021 with four new starters.

When it comes to the offensive line, it’s clear that they need more time to gel. Perhaps players like Dan Moore Jr. and Kevin Dotson end up being long-term solutions for them. However, even if this proves to be the case, the Steelers are going to need 2-3 more starting-caliber players.

Recently, Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network comprised his latest 2022 NFL mock draft now that the draft order is decided for all but the two teams headed to the Super Bowl. Despite a rush of offensive linemen being taken inside the top-10 picks, Sanchez had the Steelers digging down their board for OL help at pick 20 and taking Boston College OG Zion Johnson. Here’s what he had to say about their selection:

"The Steelers need a QB and they need offensive linemen to protect the quarterback. I believe that the Steelers are an attractive destination for one of these big-time quarterbacks and that they will be able to lure one to the organization. So instead of having to go quarterback here, they can upgrade an offensive line unit that needs help tremendously. They do this by drafting Boston College IOL Zion Johnson."

Sanchez’s reasoning for not going with a quarterback here is that he believes they are an attractive enough destination to land a veteran who will want to come in and lead this team. Even if this isn’t the way the Steelers are thinking, taking a player like Zion Johnson is within the realm of possibility, but is it the right choice?

Steelers would be wrong to dig down their draft board

I can understand wanting to fill your biggest needs in the draft. The Steelers, quite frankly, had a terrible offensive line in 2021, and they can’t expect things to get much better if they ignore addressing the trenches once again in the NFL Draft.

However, one mistake that teams often make — and one the Steelers are stranger to in the past — is reaching for a position of need. Pittsburgh did this in 2013 when they needed a pass rusher. They selected Georgia’s, Jarvis Jones. Colbert did this again in 2016 when they needed a cornerback, and they took Artie Burns despite a run on the CB position prior to their pick.

This is such an awful way of doing business, and the Steelers can’t settle for reaching down their draft board. This is less of an indictment of Zion Johnson and more of criticism towards the process in general.

Perhaps Johnson ends up being a very good NFL player. However, he’s ranked in the 40s on most overall draft boards at the moment, and until he proves that he belongs in the discussion as a true first-round pick, he shouldn’t sniff the 20th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

You can hardly ever go wrong taking the best player available (BPA). This is a draft philosophy that more teams should adopt. In this case, considering who is still left on the board, the Steelers would be much better off talking a standout edge defender like David Ojabo, or going with one of the top two linebackers on the board in Devin Lloyd or Nakobe Dean. In addition, two impressive cornerback prospects are on the board in this mock with Roger McCreary and Kaiir Elam.

The Steelers have reached way down their draft board in the past to fill positions of need, and I’m afraid they could make the same mistake again in 2022. I know that Pittsburgh needs offensive line help, but reaching for a position of need is never the answer. They need to be prepared to take the best player available if the draft unfolds like this.