The Steelers were not able to get a spot in the playoffs this year, so now it is time to turn our attention to the draft.
This past Sunday for the Steelers was like a surprise birthday party that someone throws you but barely anyone shows up. They had excitement with their win, but all of that was dashed since they missed the playoffs. Things ended on a good note for Pittsburgh as they were able to show signs of improvement over their final seven weeks, but it was not enough.
The roster is still young and has a lot of potential in front of it. Kenny Pickett was not great in his rookie season, but he did well in specific moments that give hope. He was able to produce in crunch time and get last minute wins over Baltimore and Las Vegas around the holiday season. There is a lot of work to be done on this roster before Pickett and company have a chance at a Super Bowl.
Steelers select Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon in the first round
With their first-round selection in this mock draft, the Steelers decide to go with an inside linebacker. Noah Sewell is one of the two best inside guys in this crop of incoming rookies. He has pedigree as his brother is a starting tackle for the Detroit Lions. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers love prospects that have some sort of family connection to the NFL.
This Oregon product checks off a ton of boxes for the black and gold when it comes to what they look for in their first-round selections. Sewell is a strong run defender and has a ton of athletic ability that should carry over into his coverage abilities. Investing this high into the inside linebacker position might scare some fans, but the team desperately needs to find a reliable starter in the middle of their defense and Sewell accomplishes that.