Unless something surprising happens, the Steelers appear poised to take a defensive lineman in the first round of the upcoming draft. The only way that changes is if an unforeseen prospect falls to their pick. That is unlikely to happen, but keep your eyes on the top 30 visits that Pittsburgh invites to town. Most of those visitors wind up being their top picks.
Most have set their eyes on a quarterback possibly being Mike Tomlins's top choice in the upcoming draft, but hopefully, they learned from the Kenny Pickett debacle. They must bypass the position early in the draft after they sent their second-round selection in the D.K. Metcalf trade. This mock draft sticks to the guns of Omar Khan to build a successful team around a future signal caller.
Pittsburgh Steelers invest in trenches in 7-round mock draft
Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
There have been countless defensive linemen connected to the Steelers during the pre-draft process. Expect Walter Nolen to remain on Pittsburgh's radar as the draft nears. They should send most of their top evaluators to the Ole Miss Pro Day at the end of March. Most will link them to Ole Miss's quarterback, Jaxson Dart, but that won't be their top reason for being there.
Nolen could be available when Khan makes his final decision with his top pick. He goes with this defensive tackle out of the SEC as his top choice in this mock draft. Nolen is someone who can make an impact on the Steeler's trench warfare on day one. Tomlin also spoke to this prospect during most of the pre-draft events. Expect him to receive a top-30 visit in the coming weeks.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Not having a second-round pick is difficult until you consider they used that to acquire Metcalf. It was hard to imagine Kaleb Johnson slipping this far, but he did in this mock draft scenario. He is a talented running back out of Iowa who remained a top player for their limited offense. Johnson had a poor 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine, which might've sunk his draft stock.
Don't expect Johnson to slip too far in the upcoming draft. What happens in the Steeler's plans will depend on Aaron Rodgers's decision to sign with them. If he does, they must be desperate to pair a quality running back early on with the veteran quarterback. Johnson would be a terrific fit in Arthur Smith's offense and someone who would be great value here.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
Pittsburgh added two cornerbacks during free agency signing Darius Slay and Brandin Echols. One will be on the outside, while the other will be in the slot. The secondary remains an issue at cornerback and safety moving forward. They go with Cobee Bryant here to infuse quality depth and a potential starting option.
Bryant has a terrific week at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He was sticky in coverage and has the right mindset to play in the Steeler's defense. Slay is on a one-year contract and preached his willingness to teach young cornerbacks on the roster. That should be music to Tomlin's ears. Bryant would do well taking time to develop behind a veteran like Slay.
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Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: Miles Frazier, OL, LSU
The number of pieces lost along the offensive line during free agency is staggering.
Pittsburgh wants to emulate the Philadelphia Eagles, so the Steelers better stick to the plan. The Eagles routinely invest in the trenches, on offense and defense. The Steelers must take an offensive lineman or two in the upcoming draft. They decide to take Miles Frazier out of LSU who can help boost their depth along the interior of the offensive line.
Frazier is the perfect prospect who oozes versatility in his game. He started most of his games as a left and right guard, but he also lined up at right tackle from time to time. Frazier isn't going to be a tackle at the next level, but he could shift out to that position on an emergency basis. The Steelers would love to add his versatility and possibly try him out at center.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: Chase Lundt, OT, Connecticut
Since Dan Moore Jr. left during free agency, the Steelers have too many question marks at the offensive tackle position. Broderick Jones and Troy Fautau will be the starters, but neither have proven themselves at their projected spots. Expect Pittsburgh to focus on taking an offensive tackle in the draft or sign a veteran in free agency to be their swing tackle.
Chase Lundt is a massive player coming out of a small program. He has tons of starting experience after barely missing time during his college career. Lundt's issue in a swing tackle role would be his lack of expertise on the left side. He has gotten almost all of his snaps at right tackle. He's a solid gamble here and someone who could develop further.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Dont'e Thornton, WR, Tennessee
He's a late-round flyer, but Dont'e Thornton is an exciting prospect heading into the draft. Pittsburgh noticed him enough that they sent their receivers coach to watch him closely at his Pro Day. When you get to the later rounds of the draft, it's common for clubs to take players whose position coach's demand. Thornton hasn't produced godly numbers, but he is a freak athlete.
Late in the mock draft, calls for a massive receiver who stands at 6'5 and might've had the best combine of any player in attendance. The Steelers might not desperately need a receiver after the Metcalf deal, but they could use some extra depth guys to challenge for a roster spot. Thorton could also excel on special teams, earning him an expanded role.