Steelers Final Mock Offseason: Pittsburgh stays busy with massive moves in 2024

Steelers mock draft round 3: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

With the club moving on from Kwon Alexander and signing Leonard earlier in free agency, the Steelers shouldn't feel a need to panic at drafting a linebacker. They do have Jeremiah Trotter Jr. land in their lap in the third round. It's great value and Pittsburgh can't pass it up. There are a couple of different thought processes behind this selection.

The Steelers don't know when Cole Holcomb will return right now, and the inside linebacker depth plummeted quickly last season. They need guys that can start on defense and having a trio of Elandon Roberts, Leonard, and Trotter would be a deep group. The club also won't know how Holcomb rebounds from his injury until he hits the field.

Another thought behind this pick is, that no one knows what Leonard has left in the tank. Yes, Pittsburgh signed him to a decent contract, but that doesn't mean they can't move on from him after this season. He is a known commodity around the NFL, but his game has started to slip over the past couple of years. The defense needs more assurance at inside linebacker.

We know that Trotter has met with the Steelers during the pre-draft process, and it seems like a position of need this offseason. Add in the fact that his father played 12 years in the NFL, and you know Tomlin loves this prospect. He would fill up the inside linebacker room with talent and give them plenty of options both at starting spots and in their depth roles.