Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh addresses pressing needs with early picks

Steelers mock draft round 4: DL Zacch Pickens

One position that many would like this team to address as early as the first round is the interior defensive line. Outside of Cameron Heyward (who turns 34 years old this may), there aren’t many players to write home about. Rookie DeMarvin Leal showed promise, but this is a relatively weak group at the moment that lacks depth. Meanwhile, Larry Ogunjobi is a free agent and could be signing elsewhere soon.

The Pittsburgh Steelers just had success with a rookie Pickens, so why not try another? Zach Pickens (no relation to George noted) was a former five-star recruit who has plenty of tools to work with. At 6’4” and 304 pounds, Pickens has good size and a frame to add more bulk if needed.

Taking an interior defender in the fourth round isn’t going to solve all of their problems, but I also waited this long in this mock draft to address this need with the assumption that the Steelers have already signed a respectable player in free agency.

If the draft shapes out something like this, Pittsburgh could roll with Heyward and a veteran free agent while grooming Leal and Pickens for bigger roles on the defensive line. This would be a solid depth option in the fourth round.