3 options for Steelers in first 3 rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in for what should be an entertaining offseason before 2022.
While the Steelers were able to make the playoffs in Ben Roethlisberger’s “last dance” they found themselves with the 20th pick of the draft. While the Steelers need upgrades at a number of high-value positions, I would not expect Pittsburgh to do something like trading up in the draft or use all of their cap space on high-priced free agents to try to win a Super Bowl next season. Pittsburgh will take what they can this year without over-extending in order to put themselves into a position to compete for a championship in 2023.
Due to how early this mock draft is I’m going to give you 3 of my more likely options for each round of this year’s draft.
Steelers round 1 options
The Steelers’ top needs entering the draft are on the O-line, at quarterback and off-ball linebacker. The latter being a favorite of Kevin Colbert’s to draft on day 1 or 2.
The Steelers’ draft board will be determined by the picks before them. If the right player falls to them at 20 and the quarterbacks are scooped up quickly, then the order in which positions are targeted could change.
First option QB Malik Willis:
He is by no means a day 1 ready kind of prospect. However, Willis has a ton of tools that can be built on. His mobility is lauded, his arm strength is well above average, and with Canada likely running a more college-style offense it shouldn’t take long for Willis to get acclimated.
The Liberty product would likely end up trading in his Liberty uniform for a Steelers’ uniform if he makes it to the 20th pick.
Second option C Tyler Linderbaum:
Linderbaum is the top center prospect of the draft by far. If the Iowa product falls to the 20th pick he is the only player I could see the Steelers targeting before a quarterback as of now.
Linderbaum is likely to be picked in the top 15 though. He could go as high as the top 10. It will all depend on where teams are valuing the center position heading into this draft.
Third Option QB Sam Howell:
While many would like to see Kenny Pickett here, I’m simply not buying the Steelers’ interest in him at the Senior Bowl. The UNC signal-caller has been linked to the Steelers all year and an up and down senior bowl weekend from Pickett isn’t enough to change that for me.
He has a good deep ball and while having an off-year in 2021 he still showed mobility by running the QB option and the ability to drop the ball in a bucket 45 yards downfield. There are some accuracy issues in the intermediate area of the field that need to be cleaned up however Howell is a B+ prospect that can change that to A+ if he fixes some of his inconsistencies in between 10-25 yards downfield.