The Steelers have a lot of needs to fill, and they trade back for more picks in this rendition of our mock draft.
We are officially in mock draft season for the Steelers. While the top teams are still competing for the Super Bowl, the Steelers focus has shifted to how they can get back there in the offseason. While there is still a lot of time until the Steelers are on the clock, I wanted to take the time to throw together another mock draft for the team.
I did decide to change things up in this mock draft with a trade. This isn’t something I normally do, as predicting trades is extremely difficult. With new GMs at the helm, this team could break tradition and look to move around some more. They do just that in this rendition of a mock draft.
Steelers draft trade details
In this mock draft, when the Steelers get onto the clock, they have a trade offer come in from the Cowboys, who offer up their first pick (pick 23) as well as their second-round pick (58th overall) in exchange for pick 17. While Pittsburgh does have a plethora of early picks, adding an extra second pick allows them to have some more flexibility with their selections.
With all of that said, here is the Steelers mock draft including this trade.
Steelers mock draft round 1: IOL O’Cyrus Torrence
A name I am gravitating toward early in the Steelers draft process, O’Cyrus Torrence has the look of what the team wants in their interior linemen. He has freaky size, as his listed playing weight comes in close to 350 pounds. While not a premiere athlete, Torrence moves well considering all of his mass.
Where he really shines is as a run blocker. He is aggressive and strong at the point of attack, opening up holes for his backs to get through. He has NFL strength there already. While not a premier pass protector, he anchors well. That said, he can get beaten with some fitness moves against pass rushers with a lot of tools.
Because of his limitations, Torrence likely won’t develop into a top lineman. That said, he is pro-ready as a run blocker and should become a good guard at the pro level. I do think he is more of a second-round prospect, but the trade-back opens the door for him to be the guy. He would give the Steelers an improved interior as he would step in for Kevin Dotson in 2023.
Steelers mock draft round 2 (via CHI): LB Trenton Simpson
The other player I was considering in the first round, Trenton Simpson fell to the top pick of the second round and I was thrilled. There is no weaker position on the team right now than linebacker. The only player locked into a roster spot is Mark Robinson, this depth chart needs to be filled out and talent needs to be brought in.
Simpson was a dynamic player for the Tigers in school. He has size and incredible athleticism that allows him to work in space. He is also a very instinctual player on both run and pass plays, which aids in his game. The real issue is his lack of a defined role. Clemson used him all over their defense early in his career, but his overall impact was reduced when they had him focus on being just an off-ball linebacker last year.
That said, he has the potential to be an impact player early. He can shoot gaps and rush the passer, hold his own in coverage, and can shed blocks. He will need to stay focused on being a linebacker, but his ceiling is high. There are quite a few technical things to work out, but Simpson could quickly become a dominant linebacker and fill a huge need for the Steelers.
Steelers mock draft round 2: TE Darnell Washington
Because of the trade back with Dallas, I really wanted the Steelers to grab the best player available on the board, and more specifically find Kenny Pickett another weapon to throw to. I wasn’t impressed with the receivers available, but Darnell Washington was just sitting there and thus became the pick.
The Steelers don’t need a tight end, as Pat Freiermuth is an ascending player there, but there are some questions behind him, especially if Zach Gentry isn’t retained. Washington would be a huge upgrade there regardless. He has great size, can block (a task he did regularly at Georgia), and has soft hands that make him an asset in the passing game.
The Steelers heavily used their tight ends in 2022, and I think that trend will continue as Pickett hasn’t proven to be a dynamic passer deep yet. Having a strong tight end room would go a long way in this offense. Again, this is a luxury pick that I allowed with the extra draft capital, but Washington would be a great fit in this offense moving forward.
Steelers mock draft round 2: S Jordan Battle
The Steelers secondary has a lot of question marks heading into the offseason. They don’t have a strong safety under contract and Cameron Sutton could very well walk in free agency. A player like Alabama safety Jordan Battle could feasibly fill either of those voids, making him an interesting fit here in the second round.
Battle is a defensive back that loves to hit, and hit hard. He is physical as a run defender and thrives in the box. His man coverage skills are hit or miss, but the closer he plays to the line the more dynamic he is. Add in his plus athleticism and you have a great run-defending secondary player that can hold his own in coverage.
While safety is likely his best position, I do think he would make a good slot cornerback. If the team has a glaring hole there, he could easily fill in. If not, he has all of the tools needed to be a good strong safety in the NFL. The Steelers need to get their secondary questions answered, and Battle would go a long way in figuring them out.
Steelers mock draft round 3: NT Keondre Coburn
I wanted to address defensive line earlier in this mock draft, but it didn’t end up happening. Combined, I think the defensive line is the weakest position on the roster, as there is only one true starter on the roster right now. Keondre Coburn isn’t an every-down player, but he is a viable run-stopping nose tackle.
Coburn is a Casey Hampton-like player who also hails from Texas. He is short and stocky, playing at almost 350 pounds, but he is a good athlete for his size. His first step is impressive and was a way that he won along the line in school. That said, what he does best is absorbing blockers and taking up space, which is something you want in a traditional nose tackle.
He will be a very limited player in the NFL, as he won’t wow you with his pass rush or ability to beat linemen. He will be a two-down player only, and will likely only ever play 30-40 percent of the snaps in a given season. That said, the Steelers defensive line has been lacking a player like this. While limited, Coburn would be a welcome addition to this front.
Steelers mock draft round 4: WR Marvin Mims
Marvin Mims falls into a unique category of receiver that we have seen come about in recent years. He seems like a player destined for the slot given his size and ability after the catch, but he has the speed and vertical ability to win deep. Frankly, the Steelers need help in both areas and adding Mims this late makes sense.
The team saw just how shallow their receiver group was this past season. After the Chase Claypool trade, the team failed to consistently field three great receivers for Pickett to target. Mims won’t develop into a top option on a team, but he can become a valuable secondary option to target.
Get the ball in his hands and he will make someone miss. Put him in single coverage and he can burn you deep. He lacks a great route tree right now, but he has the makings of a good receiver to add to this room. He can play almost anywhere and make an impact there. More depth would be needed, but Mims is a fine mid-round receiver to target.
Steelers mock draft round 7: OT Trevor Reid
The Steelers look to fill out their offensive tackle depth with one of their final picks. No, Trevor Reid isn’t going to start right away, but he has the size you want in a player and has great athleticism for the position. He will need to work out the nuances of the position and get stronger, but he could serve as a swing tackle long-term.
His biggest issue is his strength, as he fails to win against stronger collegiate players. He will need to focus on his strength training. That said, he can fill in on either side and take his rookie year to improve his foundation. I don’t see a starting role in store for him, but he should be a fine backup for this team.
Steelers mock draft round 7: QB Jaren Hall
The Steelers round out this draft just as they did in 2022: with a quarterback. It will likely make a lot more sense this season though, as the team will be looking to fill out that depth chart. There are a slew of late-round quarterbacks that have backup potential, and the Steelers would be wise to get one of them.
Jaren Hall has a lot of traits you like to see, but he is older and has poor size for the position. He is fun to watch extending plays and has a decent arm to back up long passes. His overall frame will likely limit him, but he could excel as a second option long term. He would be a savvy addition to this quarterback room.
While the NFL draft is still a ways away, the Steelers will have plenty of holes to fill. The trade back in this mock opens the door for some newer faces to be added to help this team out. Not every need was met, but there were a lot of improvements made overall.