It is officially the holiday season and everyone is excited to be around friends and family, Along with the holidays come gifts and the Steelers are hoping for some big ones in the coming months. They have a lot of situations to figure out between now and the NFL Draft. Spring is the time for team building around the league and Pittsburgh has plenty to do with that.
The offense will get the brunt of additions come draft time, but the defense has a lot of holes to fill too. Especially in the secondary, that part of the team is a mess right now. On offense, the Steelers need to decide Kenny Pickett and the future of the quarterback position. Other spots will need to be solved as the club hopes to get better in a hurry.
Most of these issues are based on current problems that have shown up this season. Pickett has not proved to be a franchise guy this year as many thought he could take another step forward. Other parts of the team, especially on offense have also been letdowns. The black and gold will try and be active again this offseason but with little cap space, the draft might be their best way to add.
Steelers still find their next quarterback in the first round of the draft
Jayden Daniels is there in the first round and the Steelers see too much value there to pass over him. He is an electric player at the quarterback position and should be able to beat out Pickett for the starting job pretty quickly. He could be more of a risk-taker than Pickett is, but this offense needs a spark and Daniels is exactly what this team needs.
He has been sensational at LSU and even won the Heisman trophy a couple of weeks ago. It would probably take for the Steelers to either fall off the rest of the season or a trade-up to secure someone like Daniels whenever the draft comes around. You cannot deny his production, and he should be in consideration if he is available in round one.
Day two brings a couple of muhc-needed starters to the team
Finding a safety partner is going to be crucial to the Steelers upcoming offseason. Damontae Kazee is great in a lesser role, but he can't be your answer as a starter. Keanu Neal fits the same kind of role player as Kazee and cannot be the guy moving forward. It's possible the Steelers could look at free agency to add to the position, but the draft provides cheaper options.
Tyler Nubin slips to Pittsburgh in round two and they get an immediate impact starter to play next to Fitzpatrick. He is one of the best safeties of the draft crop and should be a long-term answer at the position. Nubin is still a young player but he has a ton of experience. The black and gold get a great start to this mock draft.
Center might be the top need of this offseason as the Steelers have failed at the position for too long. Mason Cole has not shown to be the answer since becoming the starter besides having a handful of quality games. Pittsburgh has to make this position a priority and finding a long-term answer will be the best way to go via the draft.
Jackson Powers-Johnson lands in the lap of the Steelers here to close out the second day of this mock draft. He is a plug-and-play center for the Steelers and someone who could push Cole weekly if they decide to slowly be the rookie along. Not only will Powers-Johnson be an upgrade, but he will allow for the depth behind him to get better too.
Pittsburgh remains strong in this mock draft with some guys with potential
An interesting name to monitor in the coming months for the Steelers will be Edgerrin Cooper. The Texas A&M product has shown flashes of becoming a great linebacker, but things have not all come together for the most part. He has great athleticism and should be able to grow his game going to the next level. This might not be seen as a position of need, but you can never have enough.
Pittsburgh had a deep room at inside linebacker this season but both of their top guys were lost to injury in back-to-back weeks. I'd expect the Steelers to see what they can add before the upcoming season starts. Cooper would be a nice fit for this team who could learn behind some starters and grow his role from there.
Louisville had a tremendous season overall, and that was mostly because of their offense. One of the bright spots for the team was Jamari Thrash. He started off his college career at Georgia Southern before he ended up transferring to Louisville this year. It was a strong season for him overall as he showed that he could effectively transition to a higher conference and produce.
Some might not see receiver as a position of need, but it is, Who knows if either Diontae Johnson or George Pickens will force themselves out of town this offseason or not? Even if they do return it's unlikely that Allen Robinson II will come back at his cap hit and Calvin Austin III has been disappointing. Receiver needs some depth and someone like Thrash would be a great fit.
Rounding out the draft here as the Steelers take a couple of cornerbacks
The secondary kind of gets pushed back in this mock draft when it comes to the cornerback position. Not only do the Steelers need another option on the outside, but they need someone that can challenge for the slot cornerback spot. That is where Daequan Hardy comes into play. He showed up big for Penn State's defense.
He was able to come into that role after gaining it throughout the season. He was tremendous at it and was able to secure that starting spot on one of the most talented defenses in college football this past season. The Steelers need an upgrade over guys like Chandon Sullivan and Elijah Riley, and Hardy should fit that bill.
A lot going on with this prospect, but Mike Tomlin keeps his Maryland streak of draft prospects. Ja'quan Sheppard is an interesting prospect that could remind some of Tre Norwood somewhat. He has the same ability coming out of college where he can play in multiple spots and positions across the defense.
He has lined up at safety, slot cornerback, and on the outside cornerback spot. It would allow the Steelers to add someone who can add competition to plenty of spots on the back end of their roster. Pittsburgh needs more players like this who can play different roles for the team. Sheppard is a good choice to round out this mock draft.