Steelers mock draft: Connecting the dots with Pittsburgh's interests

Steelers mock draft round 4: EDGE K.J. Henry

Like receiver, I think edge rusher will be a position that ends up going higher than expected for the Steelers. I won’t be shocked to see one added during the second day of the draft. I have them sticking with a safer player in K.J. Henry. He lacks the elite upside that some of the other prospects do, but he has a high floor as a capable reserve and spot starter.

Henry does his best work when there is someone else receiving a lot of attention. He can soundly beat individual blockers, but he gets wiped out on plays when there are multiple players schemed to meet him. He has a few different moves that he can win with, and he sets the edge against the run well, but he lacks the diversity in skills to be a great starter.

Henry has the size and length you want in an edge rusher, and he tested well as an athlete. Watching his tape though, you see the issues that I brought up. He isn’t a menace off the edge and won’t be a consistent starter ever. As a rotational piece that is never the centerpiece of a defense though, Henry can be a more than capable reserve option.