Steelers 2022 mock draft emphasizes offensive needs

Steelers mock draft round 6: DT Eyioma Uwazurike

Iowa State, 6’6”, 325 lbs.

Though he had decent production the bulk of his career, on paper, Uwazaurike looks like a one-year wonder. If you know his story you understand his standout 2021 season was the result of overcoming adversity, steadily improving his technique, and changing his body. He has had to deal with the premature death of his father and put on 20 pounds of muscle during his college career. All that requires character and discipline.

I needed no more convincing when I watched him put top center prospect, Tyler Linderbaum, on skates a couple times forcing Iowa to double team him for most of the rest of the game. While he’s a natural fit for nose tackle, he has a lot of experience at all defensive line positions. He is a real student of the game whose technique showed big improvement, from year to year.

Uwazurike is very stout against the run and can stack and shed blockers. When pass rushing he shows disruptive hands and a knack for powering through gaps. He has some rush moves and easily transitions from finesse to power. He showed his explosiveness with a 33.0” vertical. That topped all defensive linemen at the NFL Combine.

Uwarzurike is player who can be stashed on the practice squad and brought up if Tyson Alualu, who will be 37 when the season starts, is unable to return to form from his Achilles injury. In 2021 Uwarzurike had 43 tackles with 12.0 for a loss and 9.0 sacks and made the first-team All-Big 12.