Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh reaches to fill biggest needs

Steelers mock draft round 7 (via Jets): RB Jerrion Ealy

The Steelers could really use some ‘lightning’ to Najee Harris’ ‘thunder’ on offense, and the Anthony McFarland experiment really hasn’t panned out so far. Back when Matt Canada was coaching at Maryland, he used a smaller scatback often who would go in motion and line up at multiple positions.

Jerrion Ealy might be able to do just that for Pittsburgh. At roughly 5’8” and 190 pounds, Ealy is much smaller than the running backs the Steelers typically look for, but Ealy will have a specific role as Canada will look to add more explosive plays to an offense desperately lacking them in 2021.

Steelers mock draft round 7: LB Joshua Ross

For some reason or another, the Steelers seem to have interest in a 227-pound linebacker with 4.79 speed. While I don’t think Ross is ever a player Pittsburgh would want seeing the field, at the tail end of the NFL Draft, you are looking for players who can make your roster on special teams.

Ross may be able to do that. He’s a physical, savvy football player who spent five years in one of the better defensive programs in the country at Michigan. If he makes the roster or even begins his career on the practice squad, that’s about all you could ask for at this point in the draft.

The Steelers have some crucial decisions coming. While I would not be thrilled with the results of this draft on paper, it could prove to be a solid draft in the long run.