Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh finds their QB in full 2022 first-round mock
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers mock draft:
Edge defender. Los Angeles Chargers. David Ojabo. 17. player. 13.
Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram used to be one of the strongest edge pairings in the NFL. While Bosa was still great when Ingram left, the Chargers could really use another talented edge rusher to take some of the pressure off Bosa. David Ojabo is solid value at arguably the 2022 draft’s strongest position. Ojabo is the perfect right-side edge rusher with a lightning first step and terrific dip around the edge. Los Angeles already had a very good offense in 2021. It’s time to start bolstering this defense.
Quarterback. New Orleans Saints. Kenny Pickett. 18. player. 15.
This pairing makes a ton of sense if the chips fall this way. The New Orleans Saints have one of the worst cap situations in the NFL right now, so even getting a quality veteran free agent could be difficult. Meanwhile, spending their first-round pick on a pro-ready player like Kenny Pickett could be just what the doctor ordered. There are many questions surrounding Pickett’s historically small hands, but playing in a dome would negate most of these. Pickett would be an excellent fit for the Saints, and I have to believe he’s someone on their NFL Draft radar this April.
Linebacker. Philadelphia Eagles. Nakobe Dean. 19. player. 54.
I know a lot of experts believe that Iowa Center Tyler Linderbaum will be on of the Eagles’ three first-round picks. However, I can see them passing now that it sounds like four-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce wants to keep playing. Instead, I have Philadelphia fixing an unspectacular linebacker room by adding Georgia stud, Nakobe Dean. Dean would instantly add speed and play-making ability to the Eagles defense.
. Quarterback. Pittsburgh Steelers. Sam Howell. 20. player. 55
I think Malik Willis is the goal for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, but if they can’t find a trade partner to get ahead of the Seahawks or if they aren’t willing to give up that much, general manager Kevin Colbert could settle for the next best available player at the position. In their mind, that guy might be Sam Howell. The Steelers were rumored to be interested in drafting Howell over Pickett during the 2021 season, and he checks a ton of the boxes Mike Tomlin typically looks for. Howell would compete to start, but it would probably be best if he had a year to sit and develop. With Willis long gone, he’s the pick in this Steelers mock draft.