Steelers post-NFL Combine mock draft: Malik Willis is still the ultimate goal

Steelers mock draft round 2: WR George Pickens

It’s impossible to rule out a skill player for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round. Pittsburgh drank from this pool often in recent years — spending second-round picks on JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, and Chase Claypool. Even the third-round pick they spent on Diontae Johnson was just a few picks outside of the second round.

Now it seems as though there’s a solid chance the Steelers could once again select a second-round receiver, as they have officially met with many of the WR prospects projected to go in this range. In addition, there’s a chance both JuJu and Washington leave in free agency this year.

While some would love to see them address the trenches here, I think they will take care of several key issues upfront in free agency this offseason, and they miss out on a wave of talent here early in the draft.

George Pickens was a former five-star recruit whose tape jumped off the screen from day one. He suffered an ACL tear last year, but the NFL Combine proved that he was fully healthy. Pickens is a very natural, well-rounded football player who could be a high-end WR2 in the NFL. He gives this team a boost on offense as a rookie.