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

Steelers round 4 and 6:

After heavily addressing the line in free agency, the Steelers can wait until day three to grab some depth linemen. Tyler Linderbaum is almost off my board after testing as small as he did and Kenyon Green tested as a marginal athlete. Neither are locks to be the team’s first-round pick.

As a result, I genuinely believe the line will be addressed more in free agency while the draft will be used to find some developmental prospects. In the fourth round, a name along the interior that makes a lot of sense is Cade Mays. The Tennessee product is a big-bodied bully that has been a physical presence along their line. He is a nasty run blocker with a strong presence on a line but has some limitations as a pass blocker.

His tape reminds me a little bit of Kevin Dotson honestly. Dotson is the better athlete on tape, but both or big run blockers that project well as guards. May’s wouldn’t be a great option to start week one, but he can serve as a reserve guard and help push whoever is starting in front of him. Getting a backup capable guard with the potential to be more is a smart move.

The sixth round is more of a tossup here, as the team can target a cornerback, tackle, or even a running back. There are a slew of options here, but ultimately I landed on a big developmental tackle. Kentucky’s Dare Rosenthal fits the mold of what the Steelers want in a tackle given his immense size.

He needs a lot of work before he can be counted on as a steady contributor, but the tools are there. The Steelers tackle situation is a weird one. Right tackle is a pending need, but signs point to the team rolling with Chukes Okorafor again this season. No matter who is penciled in to start though, getting a developmental backup in the sixth round seemed like the right move.