With free agency underway for the Steelers, here is a look at a new mock draft that attempts to fill their needs before any big signings are announced.
With the NFL set to open free agency underway, the Steelers have certainly been one of the more active teams when it comes to filling their biggest holes. Their needs have since changed.
In this mock draft, the Steelers attack their roster in a different way, bypassing quarterback and interior offensive line in favor of some other positions. Here is a seven-round Steelers mock draft after free agency.
Steelers round 1
A man that seemingly blew up the combine and will be talked about for years to come, Jordan Davis is certainly an impressive big man. Despite weighing in at a massive 6’6, 341 pounds, Davis moved like an elite athlete and now has the scouting community buzzing. While there are limitations to his tape, he was truly the best player on the board when my time to pick came up.
While some will want him to just naturally fill out his frame and remain a pure nose tackle, I personally would want to see the big man shed a little weight so he can be more of a hybrid player on the team’s line. As well, he needs to improve heavily as a pass-rusher, as his seven career sacks at Georgia aren’t impressive.
Is taking a defensive lineman in the first an access want? Yes, it is, but in a year with so many holes and still some uncertainty among what players like Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu will look like next season mixed with Davis’s potential make this a realistic option. His athleticism is immense, but he still has a lot of work to get done at a professional level. I’m not in love with this pick, but Davis could develop into one of the better linemen in the league.
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.
Steelers round 3
With a receiver going in the second round, a third-round linebacker seems likely. A name that is quickly heating up is Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal. A big, throwback type of linebacker in the mold of Vince Williams, Chenal is a hefty run defender that can attack gaps and make plays in the backfield. He reads plays well and is aggressive after making his read.
Where Chenal has really earned a boost has been as an athlete. Despite being a bigger body and a more typical run-defender, Chenal has tested as an impressive athlete. He has gone from a day-three, two-down linebacker, to someone that has the potential to be more. Similarly to Watson, there is a real chance he has outperformed himself and will be gone before the third-round pick.
There are some severe limitations to his game right now. His coverage skills are bad right now in both man and zone assignments. That alone may keep his stock down, as he will need some time to develop his skills before being counted on as a three-down linebacker. Those flaws need to be remembered despite his great pre-draft testing so far.
In terms of what the Steelers need, both of their linebackers lacked the ability to aggressively fill gaps in run defense last season. This means Chenal has an instant path to defensive success, as he can be used as a two-down linebacker early in the process. Long-term, he will need to be developed as a coverage player in order for him to become a true starter. Even if he doesn’t develop in coverage, he can still be an effective run defense for this team.
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.
Steelers round 7
Kicking off the final round, the Steelers look to fill some depth needs and add special teams options. The first name comes from a familiar family, as Isaiah Pola-Mao is related to Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu. While the upcoming safety is far less revered than Polamalu was, he has the traits to be a successful player.
He has great size and physicality for a box or strong safety at the next level. While not an elite athlete, he has more than enough speed and agility to hold his own in coverage. While he may never become a starter for this team, he has all of the traits of a fine backup and a good special team player. Add in his family ties and this seems like a good pairing.
Amare Barno wraps up this draft class, and he would project well into the Steelers edge rusher depth chart. While not a dynamic defender in college, Barno did well enough as a player for Virginia Tech. He only compiled 10 total sacks over the past two seasons, but his rawness as a pass rusher is evident on tape. He will need some work before he can be counted on regularly.
What makes him intriguing though is his rare athleticism. He tested as an insanely good athlete at the combine, rivaling former first-round pick Odafe Oweh in terms of speed and agility. He should be able to take on a special teams role early as he progressed as a pass rusher. He needs some work to be sure, but Barno would have time to develop behind the Steelers talented starters.
While there is still quite a bit of time for the Steelers to finalize their draft board, this new spin does a lot well. While I’m not sold on Davis in the first, the rest of the class panned out nicely. With the offensive line getting a few pieces in free agency, this draft addresses most of the other needs.