There are plenty of needs for the Steelers heading into the offseason, but addressing the trenches is the most glaring hole. As we sit here today, both tackle and guard are in need of upgrading between now and the start of the regular season. Adding a defensive tackle to file next to Cam Heyward is another thing that needs to be accomplished.
Free agency could alter the entire draft outlook for Pittsburgh between this portion of the offseason and when the draft rolls around. There are plenty of players that need to be signed during that stretch of time and it could address some of the needs. The black and gold were able to accomplish plenty of tasks by taking positions of need, with some thought of potential free agent acquisitions in the potential future affecting this mock draft as well.
Steelers get a steal as a top tackle falls to their first round selection
Somehow Paris Johnson Jr. was able to fall the entire way to the Steelers' 17th overall pick in the first round. This would be an exciting selection as Johnson seems to project as a top tackle in the NFL for years to come. One would have to imagine that if this prospect starts to fall in the draft, plenty of NFL teams will come calling to try and trade ahead of the black and gold.
Taking this player would be an instant upgrade over Dan Moore Jr. on the left side of the offensive line. They get a legit option to protect Kenny Pickett moving forward, and it will come at a cheaper price than normal value for an elite tackle. Getting Johnson at 17 is not the likeliest of scenarios to happen, but it played out perfectly for the Steelers in this case.
Another great selection here by the black and gold as they get a plug-and-play starter at left guard. It will be interesting to see what Pittsburgh does if they are able to get a top tackle in the first round of the draft. They could envision moving Moore to guard and having him replace Kevin Dotson as the starter. If that is the case, then a guard might not be an immediate need here.
Knowing what we do now, the Steelers could not pass up the opportunity to draft the best guard in this draft. O'Cyrus Torrence has gotten a lot of praise since his dominant week at the Senior Bowl, and that is going to get his name into the first-round conversation. He is still sitting there at the start of the second round here and the organization cannot pass him up.
Some might be surprised that Siaki Ika fell to the second pick of this round for the black and gold, but it could be realistic. Most see Ika as a nose tackle when he jumps to the NFL, with a slight possibility to become a three-down defender. No matter if he is a true nose tackle or not, this is a great value pick by the Steelers at this point in the draft.
They fill a major need by taking Ika here, and they should be able to stop their opposition's rushing attack from now on. That is the main reason why the black and gold can justify this selection with one of their top picks in the draft. Ika will come in and be a starter, but DeMarvin Leal could also create a solid duo with Ika with coming into pass-down scenarios.
Steelers focus on some potential needs that could also get addressed in free agency
Another need that could become pressing is cornerback if Cam Sutton is not re-signed. James Pierre did some nice things during his limited action on defense this season, but you cannot trust him right now. Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace cannot be the returning starters, and it seems like a rookie could be drafted high at this position of need.
The Steelers take Darius Rush here as he slipped to their third-round selection in this simulation. He had a nice week down at the Senior Bowl and seemed to improve his stock. Rush should be able to come in and compete for a starting job but bringing back Sutton might slow down that urgency.
Here is a need that could get some attention during the free agency process for the Steelers. No matter if a starter is signed during that portion of the offseason or not, inside linebacker should also be addressed in the draft as well. Pittsburgh waits until the middle portion of the draft and they take Cam Jones out of Indiana.
He is an athletic linebacker that is undersized entering the NFL. He weighs under 230 pounds and barely eclipses six feet tall. Jones is known as a good run stuffer that can time blitzes well. The biggest concern will be how his coverage skills are against some of the better tight ends in the league.
Pittsburgh ends this mock draft by taking two offensive players
Taking a quarterback seems like it could happen more and more with each passing day. Mitch Trubisky's future is in the air and Mason Rudolph is scheduled to become a free agent. Either one of those two veterans will return, or there will be a free agent addition in the mix.
There is going to be a vacant spot at the third-string position for the quarterback room and that is where the draft comes in. Taking a quarterback this late in the draft is basically a flyer as they try and develop Jaren Hall. He has a ton of talent, but he needs to work on his mental part of the game to harness it into something more.
Zach Gentry could always return, but things are silent in the organization right now as free agency looms closer. Connor Heyward is solid depth, but he still has work to do regarding his blocking game. That drop-off from Gentry to Heyward in that instance is something that could affect the Steelers in a bad way.
They take Brenton Strange to come in and compete for the third spot on the roster. He should be able to develop into a solid overall player as his collegiate days were not highly productive. Strange is a big target that filled the field during his days at Penn State.