Steelers mock draft: Pittsburgh fills in the gaps after free agency frenzy

Steelers mock draft round 2: C John Michael Schmitz

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't invested this high in a true center prospect since spending a first-round pick on Maurkice Pouncey out of Florida all the way back in 2010. Since his retirement two years ago, they have been living year-to-year at the center position with some stop-gap options.

After the Kendrick Green experiment blew up in their faces, signing Mason Cole proved to be a solid and necessary move. However, Cole isn't anything more than a serviceable starter. Though he had a respectable first year in Pittsburgh, his future with the team is uncertain beyond the 2023 season (at least as a starter), as the Steelers could contemplate cutting him to save some money in 2024 if they do have another option lined up.

The Steelers have expressed interest in Minnesota center, John Michael Schmitz, as he has earned a top-30 visit with Pittsburgh early in the pre-draft process. Schmitz is one of the older prospects in this draft at 24, but he is NFL-ready. He earned remarkable grades last year as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.

I don't think that center is the most significant need for the Steelers at the moment, but their decision to bring him in suggests that he will be on their radar. He's a step below other center prospects like Creed Humphrey and Tyler Linderbaum in recent years but should be a long-time starter in the NFL.