Round 1 picks
Simulation 1: 1.20, Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan
Daxton Hill is the first pick in this first simulation. That is a good pick and reasonable since the Steelers top brass went to the Michigan pro day. He would fit the bill as a starting safety if they want to move on from Terrell Edmunds, who is sitting un-signed in free agency still.
Grade: B+
Simulation 2: 1.20, Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Kenny Pickett fell to the 20th overall pick in this simulation and drafting him here is good value. He has the highest floor of any quarterback in this class, but he is too old to sit and wait to start. He would need to beat out Mitch Trubisky and start on day one. He had a great season and could be a steady Derek Carr-type starter in the NFL if all goes well.
Grade: B
Simulation 3: 1.20, Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Trent McDuffie is the next first-rounder to go to the black and gold. This would definitely be a surprise pick as many mock drafts don’t have a ton of corners going to the Steelers in round one. He is a solid prospect that doesn’t have many connections to Pittsburgh in the pre-draft process thus far.
Grade: C+
Simulation 4: TRADE, Steelers receive picks 40 & 41, Eagles receive pick 20.
This is the news of the night in this simulation as the Steelers trade back 20 spots to the second round. They end night one of the draft with four selections on day two, with three of them in the second round. This is a big haul to trade back that far.
Grade: A