While there are no guarantees in the NFL draft, this seems like a realistic scenario if the Steelers decide to move up for a quarterback.
The Steelers have made their interest in a quarterback clear this offseason, as they have their fingerprints all over the top five names. There seems to be a clear interest in the top names in the class, and it appears as though they may attempt to trade up for a prospect to land whoever they want. To land a top name, a trade-up is almost essential.
What a Steelers trade looks like
I have the most obvious trade target being the Giants’ second pick in the first round, which is seventh overall. This does mean that the Panthers do get a crack at a quarterback, but it seems like they are more smitten with Kenny Pickett. Assuming he goes there, that would open the board for the Steelers to move up and land their guy.
The breakdown of the trade is pretty simple. The Giants and Steelers swap first-round picks while Pittsburgh also throws in their first-round pick in 2022. As well, pick 84 and 241 are added by the team while the Giants throw in pick 112. This gives another fourth-round pick to make up for the lack of a third-round pick, which means more needs can be addressed.
Is it a steep price? Yes, but if the team is confident in who they are selecting then it is worth the draft picks. I’m not overly thrilled with this move up, but it is a realistic option that is on the table. With all of that said, here is a Steelers mock draft after an aggressive move-up.
Steelers round 1
With the aggressive move up, only one name makes sense for the team here. Malik Willis is one of the more polarizing names in this class, but he has the highest potential of any of the quarterbacks in this draft class. If Willis develops and reaches his ceiling, he has legitimate top-five potential as a quarterback.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of projection there, and a good comp for him entering the league is Josh Allen from when he was drafted. Both have cannons for arms and pocket mobility, but each lacks mechanics, the ability to read a defense, and consistent accuracy. Allen struggled in his first two seasons as a result, but strong coaching allowed him to become a top quarterback in the league.
Will Willis ever hit those heights? Probably not, but Willis can be a good player in time. He would enter a good situation with the Steelers as they can rely on Mitchell Trubisky for this season so Willis can work on the basics. A move up like this to land him is aggressive, but if the team is convinced in him, he makes a lot of sense for the team.
Steelers round 2
I really wanted to land a safety here, as I recognize how big of a need having a capable strong safety is for this defense. Unfortunately, no one fell this way. I changed gear to a receiver, but no one was sticking out as an obvious fit. While a bit of a luxury, the name that made the most sense in the second round was Marcus Jones, the slot cornerback out of Houston.
Undersized and essentially a slot cornerback only, Jones has a lot of fun tape to watch. Despite not testing athletically at the combine, he was a shifty player when on the field and was a potent returner. On defense, he played a lot bigger than his listed size, as he was regularly a tone-setter for the Houston defense as he would make plays in coverage and deliver big hits.
While the return man element of his game is strong, the Steelers have a long history of not relying on defensive backs to return kicks. That does take some value away from him. That said, he is a dynamic defender that plays like his hair is on fire. He would be a more well-rounded slot cornerback if added to the defense. There has been a lot of interest in Jones so far, and he would make sense in the second round of this draft.
Steelers round 4
With no third-round pick and now an extra fourth, the Steelers look to fill their biggest needs here. The better value here turned out to be a receiver (even though safety is a bigger need). A name that has been linked to the team on numerous occasions, Danny Gray would make a lot of sense at this juncture, especially if Pittsburgh hadn’t selected a receiver yet.
Gray is a fast wide receiver who was used in a variety of ways while at SMU. While his route running right now is on the rawer side which will limit him early in his career, if he can make some sharper moves and expand that route tree, he could end up becoming a capable slot receiver in the league. Long term, that may be his best fit.
The Steelers have had a notable interest in Gray during the pre-draft process. The team sent receiver coach Frisman Jackson to his pro day which is a huge sign that they are willing to draft him. He has the long-term versatility to become a viable starter, and his speed should make him potent on deep routes early in his career. The team would be getting great value here if Gray was the pick.
Steelers round 4
With the Steelers’ actual fourth-round pick, they finally go after a strong safety type to fill the pressing need there. While a fourth-round investment essentially locks a veteran into being added, long-term a starter could be found here. While the express interest isn’t there, Tycen Anderson as a developmental prospect makes a lot of sense.
Coming out of Toledo, Anderson is your typical box safety who struggles in coverage but is a force against the run. Add in his insane athleticism for the position and you have a prospect that the Steelers should like. He is extremely raw as a player, but if a capable veteran is put in front of him, long-term Anderson should be able to succeed.
While I would have preferred a safety that can start sooner than later as well as a prospect that the team has shown some actual interest in, Anderson had to do the trick. He can take on some third safety roles early as he gets his feet wet before, ideally, transitioning to a more full-time starter role sometime next season. He has the tools to become a quality starter, but he will need some time to better his skills.
Steelers round 6 and 7
In the sixth round, the Steelers look toward one of their favorite schools to find a versatile offensive lineman. Andrew Stueber is a throwback, nasty tackle that does his best work when run blocking. He uses his size and physicality to bully opposing defenders. Unfortunately, his pass blocking lacks refinement and he can get beaten easily by sound pass rushers. This likely limits him long-term in the NFL.
That said, Stueber has the makings of a potential swing tackle and even a developmental right tackle if he can improve his pass blocking. His floor is a backup tackle, which in the sixth round isn’t bad value. He lacks the potential to be a great starter, but quality depth this late in the draft is hard to not take advantage of.
Rounding out the draft is some running back depth in the form of Ole Miss runner Snoop Conner. While not the main back in his committee, Conner did a good job of making his snaps count. He uses his bowling ball-like size to pick up short yardage and he has better hands than many give him credit for.
One of my favorite traits of his is his initial burst. He sees a hole and he explodes through it. His long speed isn’t good, and he never took on the role of a lead back, but he has all of the traits to be a dependable reserve back for the Steelers. With so many bodies present for the Ole Miss pro day, Conner could take advantage and become a viable backup behind starter Najee Harris.
The Steelers are interested in landing a top quarterback in this draft class. With their sights seemingly set on Willis, a trade-up is needed to secure him. While the cost is heavy, it seems like a move the team may be looking into. It leaves the rest of their needs open, but a trade-up for a quarterback is a real possibility.