In this latest rendition of a Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft, the team focuses on building around what Kenny Pickett wants.
With the Senior Bowl wrapped up, an initial Steelers draft board is starting to become clear. The team was heavily looking into both sides of the line. While they will obviously address other needs as well, this mock draft focuses on building around Kenny Pickett.
For better or worse, Pickett is this team’s future, but he will certainly need some help. This offense is lacking weapons and protection, and the team needs to get serious about giving him some additional protection. That is what they do in this draft: build around Pickett and add talent to both lines.
Steelers mock draft round 1: WR Jordan Addison
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a huge fan of taking a receiver in the first round. While the Steelers have a need there, receivers are a notably deep position in the draft and there are more important positions to address. That said, Pickett has shown a desire to be reunited with his college teammate, and Jordan Addison was available at pick 17.
Addison is a fun player to watch. He knows how to get open and play in a variety of spots on an offense. His hands haven’t always been the best, but he is an explosive playmaker that can win deep despite not having elite athletic traits. Addison has a great connection with Pickett, knows how to get open, and thus, the Steelers add him to complete their receiver room.
Steelers mock draft round 2: CB Emmanuel Forbes
Every Steelers fan seems to develop a list of “my guys” that they gravitate to during the draft season. I am no exception, and one of the earliest players on my list was Emmanuel Forbes. He is battle-tested coming out of the SEC, and not only did he play well there, he excelled and quietly had one of the better seasons in college football.
Forbes has great ball skills, as indicated by his six interceptions. He isn’t just a playmaker though, as he is a very aggressive player that will stick his nose into run plays and deliver a big hit when he can. His desire to be involved in every play, even ones that don’t directly involve him, is reminiscent of George Picken’s style on offense.
He could certainly add some weight to his frame, and his aggressiveness has also cost him some penalties, but if he can continue to develop, he screams top cornerback for any team. He will need some seasoning as he learns to hone in his aggressive play, but he is a fun defensive player to watch and has the potential to be a top player.
Steelers mock draft round 2: OT Dawand Jones
The Steelers love size with their offensive tackles, and they don’t come much bigger than Dawand Jones. The Ohio St. tackle is a mountain of a man who knows how to use his size to his advantage. He uses his reach to quickly bring in defenders and uses his base strength to write them out of plays.
Despite being huge, Jones can move. No, he isn’t a great athlete, but considering his size, Jones can make some plays in space. As a run blocker, he can match and beat anyone trying to bull-rush him. He can struggle with some more finesse moves, as he isn’t always the most technically sound blocker.
Jones will also likely be limited to the right side of the line as a pro. While bigger left tackles exist, he has a more natural fit along the right side. He could start his rookie year, given his strength and ability to run block. He will need to focus on developing as a pass protector, but Jones has everything you want in an oversized tackle.
Steelers mock draft round 3: NT Keondre Coburn
I have the Steelers focused on finding a nose tackle in most of my mock drafts somewhere on day two. While Keeanu Benton is my top target as I think he has the potential to be a great all-around defender, he was taken earlier in the simulator. My quick backup was Keondre Coburn, the nose tackle out of Texas.
Coburn doesn’t have the potential that Benton has, but he seems like a high-floor player at the pro level. He is a throwback space eater at nose tackle, using his stout frame to take up blockers in the middle and open up lanes for other players. He is also a strong player, using that strength to push piles backward.
He has next to no pass-rush ability, and that won’t ever be a strength in his game. That said, he can serve as a two-down player for this defense and help solidify the run defense. I’ve included him in a few mocks now, and he seems like a great backup plan if some of the better nose tackles are off the board in the third round.
Steelers mock draft round 4: IOL Olusegun Oluwatimi
The Steelers don’t have a huge need at center, as Mason Cole is a capable center that should be able to hold down the position for another season. That said, Olusegun Oluwatimi is a very experienced player with a high floor as a pro prospect. He has played a lot of snaps for Michigan and has consistently been a stable blocker for their line.
What stands out to me is his pass blocking. He is quick off the snap to engage and has a variety of counters to win pass-rushing sets. Where he struggles is as a run blocker, as he lacks the lower body strength to push the pile. That said, he is a very refined player and could develop into a starter early in his career.
If he is ready to go as a rookie, Cole and shift over to guard and compete with Kevin Dotson there. If not, Oluwatimi can be a versatile swing interior lineman in year one as he works on developing that lower body strength. Adding him really opens this Steelers line to some improvements as early as the 2023 season.
Steelers mock draft round 7: WR Keytaon Thompson
While he is listed as a receiver, Keytaon Thompson is a true Swiss army knife as a football player. A former quarterback, Thompson transferred to Virginia as a graduate transfer and switched to receiver. From there, he caught passers, took handoffs, and still threw the ball on occasion.
While there are a lot of traits to like, Thompson doesn’t do anything at an elite level. Add in his age (he will be 25 as a rookie), and his ceiling isn’t high. That said, Thompson can be a gadget receiver that offers this team some versatile play options. He can contribute in a variety of ways as a rookie.
Steelers mock draft round 7: S Brandon Hill
The Steelers round out this draft with a versatile safety out of Pittsburgh. Brandon Hill plays like he is a bigger strong safety given his knack to thrive in the box and fill gaps, but he is a smaller player to fill that role. His hard-hitting nature is fun to watch, but he can get washed out of plays due to his size not being ideal for closer to the line of scrimmage.
His coverage is very average, which will also limit him as a player. That said, he plays like his hair is one fire and you have to love the physical nature of his game. He screams third safety to me that can come in and play closer to the line of scrimmage. At worst, I think he should be a decent special teams player for this team.
This seems like a relatively safe draft overall, filling some needs along both lines as well as adding some players for Pickett to use on offense. Again, I don’t love Addison in the first round, but the strength of this mock comes on day two, as both lines get strengthened overall.