Kenny Pickett is starting to campaign for Pittsburgh to draft a former teammate of his, and that dream becomes reality in this Steelers mock draft.
Kenny Pickett has been asked multiple times about his former collegiate teammate Jordan Addison over the past couple of weeks. He explained how great it would be for the Steelers to draft Addison if he is available when Pittsburgh selects. Taking Addison would be shocking as many do not imagine the black and gold taking a receiver with their first-round pick in this upcoming draft.
Pittsburgh has many different needs that will need to be filled this offseason. Some of the major areas of focus will be linebacker, safety, cornerback, and both sides of the trenches. Receiver seems like a luxury that the Steelers cannot afford currently. Pickett is the future, and his comfort cannot be dismissed completely. Giving him as many weapons on offense as possible could lead to this organization entertaining the idea of drafting Addison if he is available when they pick in the first-round.
TRADE: Steelers get picks 19, 82, and 154. Buccaneers receive pick 17.
Pittsburgh sits back and waits until pick 17 rolls around and they begin to get some calls from a couple of teams. Tampa Bay makes the most sense as the Steelers move back only two spots to gain another two selections in this draft. They move back without any more top defensive or offensive linemen available.
1.19: Jordan Addison, WR, USC
After the trade back, the black and gold make Pickett a happy camper as they take his favorite weapon from their days at the University of Pittsburgh. Jordan Addison transferred to USC this past season, which saw his numbers drop from previous years. He is an explosive playmaker that can play a slot role at the next level. The Steelers take Addison with the hope of mirroring the Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase connection.
2.32: Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor
Getting a big player in the middle of the trenches on the defensive side of the ball might be a more pressing need than the offensive line. The offensive group at least has every starter returning for next season whereas the defensive unit does not. There could be a lot of turnover next to Cam Heyward and drafting Siaki Ika would be a great choice at pick 32.
The strength and athleticism that Ika possess at his size is impressive. He projects to be an immediate impact player at the Nose tackle position in the NFL. The Steelers could use that to stop their woes against the oppositions rushing offense. Bringing in Ika for the first two downs and having DeMarvin Leal come onto the field in situational third down pass plays would be a dream.
2.51: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Darnell Wright played on the right side at Tennessee and that is probably where he will end up. He did not allow a sack this season with the Volunteers and showed some great ability in run blocking as well. Wright has played both sides of the tackle position at the collegiate level, so the Steelers will have some options after making this pick.
Dan Moore Jr. is probably the weakest link on the offensive line when it comes to pass protection. Kevin Dotson is a close second, but having Wright come in and battle for one of the starting tackle spots would be the wise decision here. Sliding Moore into guard could give him a better opportunity to use his athleticism to remain inside instead of getting beat by bending edge rushers.
3.81: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
Will Terrell Edmunds be back next year? Well, that is the question of the offseason as the Steelers will do their best to re-sign him. The question mark at the strong safety spot is concerning right now, so Pittsburgh drafts Jordan Battle out of Alabama to take over. Even if Edmunds returns to the team, this will provide options in the secondary and tremendous depth.
Battle took over as a starting safety at Alabama as a sophomore, which is almost unheard of for that program. He can play all over the secondary and that would provide great flexibility for the coaches to utilize. Battle has a lot of skill that could make him jump up draft boards, but he fell all the way into the third round in this simulation.
3.82: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
Depth at the edge position was exposed this past season and it did not paint a pretty picture for the Steelers. They select Isaiah Foskey out of Notre Dame to bring some quality depth into the fold. This prospect is not a finished product heading into the NFL, but he has some promising qualities that should allow him to have a good professional career.
Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt are the two dogs on the edge, but there needs to be a third option at the team’s disposal. Not only could Foskey come onto the field to provide a breather for Watt and Highsmith, but he can also fill in some games if either gets injured. This Notre Dame product needs to work on his pass rush at the next level, but his run defense is a strong trait for him.
4.120: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
Inside linebacker is the most desperate need for the Steelers heading into this offseason. They had to wait until the fourth round to take a player at the position with Daiyan Henley sitting there for the taking. He played receiver to start his collegiate career before transitioning to linebacker. He is an athletic guy that can cover a lot of grass.
5.154: Mekhi Garner, CB, LSU
Mekhi Garner could rise draft boards as he plays with a physicality that is almost unmatched in this draft class. He is a good man coverage guy that has shown good ability to use his hands in the right way. He can get beat at times and his speed can be brought into question, which could get him in trouble at the next level.
7.228: Trevor Downing. IOL, Iowa State
Trevor Downing is taken here to bring in some competition for the interior of the offensive line. He played mostly at center this past season, but he has a lot of snaps at guard as well. The Steelers figure to push the bottom of the roster guys with this pick and they should get that at the bare minimum out of this selection.
7.237: Habakkuk Boldonado, EDGE, Pittsburgh
This might be the first Italian-born player that the black and gold might have taken in their history. Habakkuk Boldonado is a local guy after attending the University of Pittsburgh. He is a raw athlete that still needs a lot of work at the next level. He showed a good ability to pressure the passer, especially a couple of seasons ago. There could be great days ahead of Boldonado if he gets proper coaching.
The Steelers went in a direction that pleased their young quarterback with hopes of it improving him in year two. This mock draft still had some smart moves as they got extra selections with a trade and addressed plenty of needs.