Steelers Mock Draft: Pittsburgh goes all in on offense under Arthur Smith

Steelers mock draft round 6: Keith Randolph, DL, Illinois

Outside of some offensive line help, I would argue that the defensive line is the biggest need of the team. This group has fallen off in recent years, from the starters down to the backups. Unfortunately, this draft class is short on great defensive end fits, as players are getting smaller there while Pittsburgh wants taller options there.

A name that fits the prototype of a Steelers defensive end is Keith Randolph. While his running mate is getting most of the draft attention, Randolph better fits the mold of what this team looks for in a lineman. Unfortunately, that comes at a cost since his play on the field is very average.

Randolph is your typical run defender, using his strength and length to hold the point of attack and take up space. He offers you almost nothing as a pass rusher, as his moves are limited and he fails to adjust to good counters from opposing linemen. There could be some improvement there, but at his age, he is likely close to his ceiling.

While Randolph will likely never become a good starter, he could serve as cheap depth at the position. If all goes well, he becomes a rotational piece that can play the run. He has the body type this team covets though, so he fits as a potential player from that front.