Welcome to mock draft mania! With the draft just a few weeks away, I wanted to run through as many different mock scenarios as possible for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unlike years past, this team has a lot of avenues they could take in the draft, and there is a multitude of ways for them to add more talent this year.
While each scenario will play out differently, it will follow the same base rules. We will be using the general needs of this team to determine picks. As well, we will try to follow the usual trends this team has when drafting.
Those trends vary, naturally, but some general rules are that a first-round pick needs to have either Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan at the Pro Day, or to have been invited for a pre-draft visit.
Positional coaches play a role in positions that get drafted (we have seen the secondary and receiver coach hot on the trail this year, making safety and receiver a viable selection earlier than expected).
Finally, we care about who the team brought in as a pre-draft visitor. They have brought in quite a few quarterbacks as well as running backs.
While the Steelers already traded their second-round pick to the Seahawks for D.K. Metcalf, it hasn’t stopped the team from looking deeply at this receiver class. From some of the top names that will require a first-round pick to a slew of day two options, Pittsburgh might not be done adding playmakers.
There is logic to all of this. George Pickens is likely playing his last season with the team, and he could even be traded, given the direction the Steelers are going. Investing in a future replacement makes sense, even with limited draft picks.
In this scenario, the team gets their guy in the first round. It, admittedly, makes the rest of the draft harder to work with, but here is a mock draft with the Pittsburgh Steelers addressing receiver in the first round.
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Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Receiver is one of the trickiest positions in this draft class to project. We are lacking the truly elite prospects of years past, and there is no consensus as to who the top receiver in the class is.
Matthew Golden has been a player on the rise as of late. He had one of the most impressive combine performances, and he provides a unique style that this offense lacks. He is a more nuanced route runner that also has the speed to take the top off a defense.
He can step in instantly as the second target if Pickens is traded away, or take his rookie season to rotate in and see some snaps. Long-term, he would be a perfect complement to Metcalf and could eventually turn into a viable top target on his own.
Is receiver the biggest need? No, but the Steelers could pivot from last years lacking strategy and have a plethora of quality receivers this year. Golden is one of the best in the class and would be a sound pickup, albeit a bit of a luxury.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Andrew Mukuba, DB, Texas
I’ve been trying to slot a safety early in one of these mock draft manias for a while, and Andrew Mukuba ended up being the best option this time. In case you hadn’t noticed, the Steelers have been showing a lot of interest in the safety prospects, and where there is smoke, there is fire for this team.
Mukuba isn’t a bad player either. He is one of the best coverage safeties in this draft and has a knack for taking the ball away. He can play deep or even kick into the slot. His main weakness is his run defense, as he takes poor angles and misses a lot of tackles.
For a team with an unclear future on Minkah Fitzpatrick, finding a potential replacement makes sense. Mukuba can see snaps early as a slot defender and a sub-package safety. If Fitzpatrick is cut next offseason, the team could have a natural replacement lined up for him.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Rylie Mills, DL, Notre Dame
The Steelers may be gearing up for a later defensive round selection than many would hope for. With receiver and safety taking up the first two spots in this draft, it leaves the options thin.
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That said, Rylie Mills is an excellent prospect who would be slotted a lot higher if this class weren’t so deep and if he wasn’t injured late last year. He is a potent pass rusher with a wide variety of moves, and while he needs to get stronger, he can also anchor against the run.
My lone concern with him is the length, as he has shorter than desired arms. That said, the rest of his build screams defensive end, and while he may need some time to finish healing up, he could be developed into a starter down the road.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
The Steelers will be taking a quarterback in the draft this year, it is just a question of when. I’ve kept most of my mocks with them using a day three pick on one, but the reality of the situation is that any pick right now could target a passer.
I settled on Kyle McCord in this mock as the team has shown interest in him. He has good size and a decent arm, and while his college career never panned out as he had hoped, he could become a fine backup at the next level.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 6: Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State
If the Steelers wait on a running back in this draft, I have a sinking feeling that Ollie Gordon is going to be their guy later on day three. He has received comps as a lesser Najee Harris, which seems to turn people off to him, but this offense could use a power back.
Gordon was once viewed as a top prospect, but he struggled last year and hasn’t looked great during the pre-draft process. That said, he can handle a heavy workload if needed and be a battering ram in this running back rotation.
Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
The team will likely go in an unexpected direction at some point in the draft, and earlier than the seventh round. Here, though, we land a big developmental tackle in Hollin Pierce. He has rare size and looks like a big ball of clay to work with.
He won in school with just his size and length, but he will need to improve his technique if he wants to succeed in the pros. He is a dart throw this late, but he adds some depth and competition to the tackle room.