Steelers mock draft: Defense is the priority after new OL additions

Steelers round 2

I’m not going to lie, until I see any reason to change this thought process, I am confident that the Steelers’ day two priorities are pretty set. Receiver and linebacker are both relatively big needs, and the sweet spot in terms of value appears to be the day two prospects. My favorite prospect between those groups, and seemingly one of the Steelers favorites, is Christian Watson.

While Watson played at a small school and was never an elite player, he did the best with what he had. He entered the draft season with middling expectations before a strong senior bowl launched him into round-three potential. After annihilating the combine, there is a real chance Watson doesn’t even make it to the Steelers in the second round.

While his 6’4, 208-pound frame is appealing enough, his 4.28 forty-yard dash along with a slew of tape featuring him win deep will make him a premier deep threat early in his career. He isn’t limited to just vertical routes either, as Watson can run a variety of plays to maximize his skill set. He has the makings of an elite receiver in the mold of an inferior Randy Moss or a superior Martavis Bryant.

The Steelers clearly have interest in Watson as well, as he met with the team both at the senior bowl and at the combine. Considering this team’s need for a deep threat, Watson would have an instant role in this offense. He has a really high ceiling as well, and if he falls to the team in the second round, he should be an easy selection.