With the NFL Draft just weeks away, here is an updated look at what I think the Steelers should do when they are on the clock.
The Steelers have done a fine job of filling most of their major needs, and while there is still time for some more free agent moves, the focus for the team is now on the draft. With April here and the draft now just a few short weeks away, a new take on a mock draft felt appropriate.
Despite the likelihood of a trade-up, I have the team staying at pick 20 and targeting the top quarterback left on the board. With all of that said, here is an updated Steelers mock draft.
Steelers round 1
A name I was initially lower on, it appears as though the Steelers are circling around two names to be their backup plan at quarterback if they can’t draft one of the top two names. While Matt Corral has a lot of flaws in his game, he also boasts a decent arm, accuracy, and athletic ability. He needs some time to develop, but he has the traits to build around if all goes well.
The primary issue with Corral is the offense he played in at Ole Miss. It depended heavily on quick RPOs, a very quarterback-friendly system that boosts personal throwing stats but also doesn’t focus on improving upon weaknesses. He won’t have that luxury in the league. Because of the offense he played in, he will need a bit of time to adjust to an NFL offense.
That said, his quick timing on passes and deceptive deep ball ability make him a viable quarterback in an offense with a strong run game and effective short and mid passing attack. He has all of the tools to succeed there. He got more consistent at the college level, and now he will be given the chance to shed some more flaws as he makes his way to the pro game. I have plenty of issues with Corral, but the Steelers seemed locked into a quarterback early and his name made the most sense.
Steelers round 2
Heading into the second day of the draft, the Steelers will have to be targeting their top remaining needs on the roster: receiver and safety. While I really wanted a strong safety-type to fall here, no one did, thus I opted to land a receiver the team has shown a lot of interest in during the pre-draft build in George Pickens.
Pickens was one of the top names in college heading into the season before he missed most of the last season with an injury. He declared with his value relatively low, but he has shown up well athletically so far in the testing process. He is a great outside receiver threat, who uses his size and long speed to win deep regularly. As well, he is a refined route runner that can attack the middle of the field with ease.
While his lack of production is a bit of a concern, Georgia relied heavily on their talented running backs to move their offense and their defense to control the game. Pickens made the most of his targets though and became a serviceable blocker as a receiver. Adding him to a room desperately lacking speed would make a lot of sense, and the Steelers seem to like him given their heavy interest in him so far, this draft season.
Steelers round 3
After ignoring safety in the first two rounds, the Steelers have to grab one before the end of day two. While adding one this late likely means some time on the bench to develop, it will be a well-needed addition to this roster. A name like Nick Cross will be popular for two primary reasons: his insane athletic testing and his Maryland connection to Mike Tomlin’s son.
Cross looks every bit as athletic on tape as he does from his results. He is like a heat-seeking missile once he reads a play and can move from sideline to sideline efficiently. He lacks the coverage ability you would want in a safety right now, and some of his reads are mistimed, but he can use his size and speed to make plays at every level for a defense.
The issue is his reads and his coverage, as both are well below average and will need significant work. He honestly would have benefited from an extra year in school, but that doesn’t mean he can’t develop. Taking him poses some risk, and his defensive involvement early should be limited. That means Karl Joseph/another free agent will need to be brought in. That said, the sky is the limit for Cross if he can develop at the next level.
Steelers round 4
Heading into day three, the focus has to be less on filling needs and more on finding the best pure talents left in the class. Essentially any position is on the board, and the Steelers should be focused on talent and fit more than position. That said, Coby Bryant would be a tempting player to target in the fourth round if he were available. While his running mate is the craze of the draft, Bryant also had a good career at Cincinnati.
Where Bryant excels is in coverage. He has the size and ability to play either man or zone and be effective there. As well, playing across one of the best cornerbacks in college, Bryant has been able to sharpen his tools due to being regularly targeted. He will need some work at the next level, but he can easily develop into a capable coverage cornerback.
His main issues stem from his tackling. Despite playing at a good size, he isn’t a physical player when he tackles. That would have to be changed in the Steelers defense. As well, he is only a marginal athlete. He isn’t bad by any means, but he isn’t a twitch athletic freak. He has the potential to be a starter long-term though, and given the team’s secondary woes in the past, retooling this unit is a must in this draft.
Steelers round 6
I almost double-dipped at receiver here, as a capable slot receiver would go a long way in helping this offense. With so many needs though, the attention had to remain along the defense. While adding Myles Jack gives the team two starters at linebacker, there are far more questions than answers all over that position. Josh Ross won’t fix anything by any means, but he could prove himself to be a capable backup.
Ross is a classic, throwback run stuffer as a linebacker. He lacks the size and athletic traits to be a three-down starter, but he can still fill gaps and attack the line of scrimmage. He is extremely aggressive as a defender and his tackling is sound. He was a huge force for Michigan last year at or behind or near the line of scrimmage.
In terms of his athleticism, he isn’t anything to marvel at. An undersized and below-average athlete won’t get drafted early, but Ross has the aggressiveness you want in a linebacker. He would fill out the backend of this depth chart well and contribute on special teams. He has a Vince Williams feel to him and would be a help as a depth player down the road.
Steelers round 7
The Steelers do address the offensive line in this mock, but they are looking for a versatile backup instead of a developmental starter. While there are plenty of issues within this unit, the starters seem relatively set, so finding some versatility would be better than a developmental option. Luke Goedeke seems like a safe bet to become a viable backup for this team.
While he played tackle at Central Michigan, Goedeke has the size to shift inside, if need be, to guard. He will need some time to develop his technique as a blocker, but he can essentially take 2022 as a redshirt. The goal would be for him to take on Joe Haeg’s role next season: a versatile backup that can wear a multitude of hats on offense.
Rounding out the draft, the Steelers grab an explosive back that can ideally complement Najee Harris and take some pressure off of him. D’Vonte Price tested as a great athlete with good size who has a steady track record of being a capable fill-in at running back. He did that for five seasons at Florida International.
Will Price ever be a true every-down starter? Probably not, but he can serve as a depth player in this offense. Finding a capable backup is an underrated need, as this offense will not be able to function without Harris at the helm. Price would be a potential answer and would help keep Harris fresh during the regular season.
This mock draft is far from perfect, but considering a quarterback was added in the first round and most of the major holes were filled, I can’t complain. Personally, I’m still not sold on Corral, but the Steelers seem to like him well enough. The rest of the draft fell into place pretty well, and the team would be set for the season after this.