The Steelers make some of their best picks on day two of the draft and these names could be an option.
The Steelers are going to be very active and working the phones leading up to and during the draft. They want a quarterback and that will lead to them looking into different trade scenarios to go and get their guy. If they pay the price to get a guy like Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett, then they will likely have to give up a bunch of future picks including this year’s second-rounder.
A trade like that still hasn’t been highly thought of by many experts because it goes against the “Steelers way”. That may be true and a massive trade-up might be unlikely, but this is uncommon times for the team. They are looking for a new franchise quarterback for the first time since they took Ben Roethlisberger in the first round.
There will be some options available in the second round for the black and gold to choose from. They will need to look at how the first round played out and select a player from there based on need and value of the selection. These names are some that could hear their name called by Pittsburgh on night two of the draft.
Honorable mentions
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Sam Howell has gotten a lot of attention from the Steelers throughout this previous college season. They have been linked to his name for a while and he could be an option in round one. Getting him in the second round is great value and someone that could be the selection if Pittsburgh misses out on a quarterback on night one and Howell slips.
Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
Brandon Smith was being watched very closely by the Steelers contingent that went to visit Penn State during their pro day. Other prospects are highly thought of coming out of that program as well with names like Jahan Dotson and Jaquan Brisker. Smith would be a surprising pick by the black and gold, especially after they just signed Myles Jack in free agency.
Lewis Cine, Safety, Georgia
Lewis Cine is someone that hasn’t got much attention in mock drafts going to the Steelers. He put up some great numbers during his pro day at Georgia and that shouldn’t surprise anyone. The big names of the Pittsburgh decision-makers were in person to watch this player and his teammates workout and put on a show.
This safety has been a great player during his college career and could fit into the strong safety spot. Terrell Edmunds is still a free agent upon writing this article and Tyrann Mathieu still seems like a pipe dream. Finding a replacement to start at the opposite safety position of Minkah Fitzpatrick is going to be very important between now and the draft.
Cine knows how to lay the boom on opposing offensive weapons and that was one of his best traits in college. There are some things that this player will need to work on at the next level. His playmaking ability to intercept the ball has struggled in the past and he sees a red mist from time to time.
He has been charged with some targeting penalties in college and that will need to be fixed at the NFL level. He is a tough and physical player that would fit in nicely at the starting spot. He is expected to go on night two of the draft and could be an option for Pittsburgh if they are still in desperate need of a starting safety.
George Pickens, Wide receiver, Georgia
Another Georgia Bulldog makes the list as the reigning champions will have many players drafted in the upcoming event. George Pickens has been one of the most overlooked talents at his position in college football since day one. He has been a consistent force on the Georgia offense, when healthy, that created some big plays when time mattered most.
The Steelers receiving group has been depleted since the 2021 season concluded. Three members on the roster have moved on in free agency to this point. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ray-Ray McCloud, and James Washington have all signed elsewhere and left the team with immediate needs to fill.
Finding at least one or two players to add into the fold in a starting spot for the black and golds offense will be a top priority. Pittsburgh loves to replace talent at the position through the draft, especially in the second round. We know that the top brass was in attendance during the Georgia pro day watching different players.
Pickens was getting extra attention as he went through some drills with the position coach of the Steelers that he would play for if he was drafted here. His injury history is somewhat concerning, but his talent cannot be denied. He will be a great value in the second round of the draft.
Daxton Hill is another interesting option for the Steelers on the second day of the draft. He played in the slot and at the free safety spot during his time at Michigan. This would be another good value option for the team in the second round, but he might not be exactly what they are searching for.
The franchise would need to envision him as a starting strong safety at the next level to take him here. He can also help with snaps in the nickel as well and create some mismatches. This is a very athletic safety that will be able to run with most in the NFL, but he also lacks strength in certain areas of his game.
He has been a solid tackler and playmaker when the ball is in the air. His weakest part of his game is getting overpowered by larger receivers, which could be a problem as strong safeties are normally asked to cover tight ends. The Steelers sent their top names to watch the pro day at Michigan and this could be a top option for the club.
They need a safety desperately and this player checks a bunch of boxes for what the team looks for in their draft picks. Hill is a Junior coming out of college with NFL bloodlines. Those are two major areas of interest for the team, and he could be in the black and gold sooner rather than later.
Desmond Ridder, Quarterback, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder is an interesting name that has picked up a lot of steam as of late. He is still projected to likely go in the second round of the draft, but the Steelers have shown a ton of interest in him. They have done a lot of homework on this quarterback class, and it seems more likely that they take one in the first two rounds as each day passes.
This player has done some great things at the college level, despite him playing lesser competition most weeks. He did step up and play well against some of the bigger programs that Cincinnati went up against like Notre Dame. This tall and lanky signal-caller could be the developmental guy that many thought Mason Rudolph would’ve been.
He has a ton of playing experience as he started his four years with the Bearcats. He got better as each season went by, with his best year being this previous one in 2021. The program that he went to made it to the college football playoffs, only to lose in the first round.
Make no mistake about it, Ridder is a project that still needs work. He doesn’t turn 23 until late August and that will give him some more time to develop and adjust to the NFL field. The Steelers don’t need him to come on day one and start, that’s why they signed Mitch Trubisky.
DeMarvin Leal, Defensive end, Texas A&M
The defensive line is a position that many would’ve thought was fairly secured before the 2021 season played out. Cam Heyward is still a beast and there are some great depth options, but Stephon Tuitt hasn’t expressed his opinion on the future of his career.
That alone will set into action a team to look at the future of the line and they need to get younger. The depth and starters across the unit are getting older, despite their abilities not diminishing right now. Addressing the defensive line earlier on in this draft has been getting a lot of homework done by the front office.
The Steelers defensive line coach was on hand to watch Leal and his teammates work out during their pro day. There is interest there and it makes a ton of sense as this player fits the size and build that the team looks for. If they miss out on Jordan Davis or Devonte Wyatt in the first round, this is a great third option.
This prospect is coming out as a Junior after starting since his true Freshman year. He is an impressive athlete that shows great burst and explosiveness. He would fight for a starting spot-on day one in Pittsburgh and would address the desperate need of youth in the club.
The Steelers will be able to select a good player in the second round as long as they still have that pick if they decide to make a trade. It is going to be interesting to watch their strategy play out during the draft process.