Steelers Mock Draft: Pittsburgh makes multiple trades for a chaotic draft class

Night one of the NFL draft is finally here, well at least in this mock draft simulation. We know the Steelers still have plenty of holes to fill on this roster. They will try to address those concerns through the draft and even potentially in free agency. They could always double-dip at certain positions as some spots lack a starter and some depth pieces behind that.

The first round rolls on and pick 20 comes around for Pittsburgh. They have a couple of prospects that they like on the board, but they also realize they need to get a couple of quality players at certain positions. With a handful of quality options still on the board for the black and gold, they decide to listen to some trade-back offers.

Both the Steelers and Detroit Lions have a trade to announce!

Pittsburgh gets an offer from the Lions that they couldn't refuse. They move back nine spots for an extra second-round pick, and they move up 11 spots in the third round. All of those more-valued draft selections could help them on day two so they can get better positioning to address further needs. The Steelers get a nice haul, and the Lions get whichever prospect they fell in love with.

Steelers mock draft round 1 (Via Detroit): Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

This would be a dream scenario for the black and gold as their top choice in the first round fell the whole way to pick 29. The Steelers run to the podium to announce the Amarius Mims selection. Not only do they get a starter at right tackle, but they also get a nice haul of picks in the earlier trade with the Lions. It is a fantastic situation for Pittsburgh.

Mims will compete for the starting job on the right side on day one. Mike Tomlin may give him the Broderick Jones treatment and start him off slowly. At least they have a future starter on the roster and someone who should get increased playing time as the season progresses. A win-win scenario on night one of the draft for Pittsburgh.

Day two of the draft has Pittsburgh and Green Bay announcing a trade!

Day two of the draft finally starts, and the Steelers need a starting center option in the worst way. Graham Barton already went in the first round, but Jackson Powers-Johnson was still there at the beginning of the second round. They failed to move up high enough to select him, but Pittsburgh was successful enough to find an alternate route with the Packers.

Steelers mock draft round 2 (Via Green Bay): Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia

After the big trade-up of ten spots in the second round, the Steelers felt the need to move up to select Zach Frazier. He may slip to their original second-round choice, but they didn't feel comfortable waiting that long in this instance. With center being the biggest hole to fill on the roster still, Pittsburgh had to move up for Frazier.

It only cost them a pick swap in the second round and the third-round pick that they originally acquired in the Kenny Pickett trade, plus seventh-round pick swaps between this draft and the next. They get Frazier, who has a ton of starting experience at center. He should be able to slide into that starting role on day one. He has room to grow, but he has enough quality experience to play immediately.

Steelers mock draft round 2 (Via Detroit): Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

With Pittsburgh being armed with an extra second-round selection, they could go in a variety of directions. Braden Fiske slipped toward the tail-end of the second round in this mock draft. He is quality value here and the Steelers have shown a good chunk of interest in this prospect. With this extra pick in hand, they decide to go young in the defensive trenches.

With Cam Heyward getting older, and Larry Ogunjobi coming off a poor season, getting some quality youth into the trenches is vital. Fiske is a supreme athlete who started his career in the MAC conference, which Tomlin loves. He proved that he can play against quality competition, and even showed signs of growth during this past year.

Steelers mock draft round 3 (Via Detroit): Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina

Pittsburgh is now armed with an early third-round selection after the earlier trade with the Lions. There are a couple of players still on the board that could interest the Steelers. They normally like to go receiver around this point, and that is exactly what they do again here. They take Devontez Walker out of North Carolina to end the second day of this mock draft.

Walker has great size and athleticism for the position and is someone who should fly at the next level. The Steelers should be a little concerned about his lone year of production at a higher program, but he produced nicely with Drake Maye. The black and gold have shown a lot of pre-draft interest in this receiver, and he remained the highest on the board by this selection.

Steelers mock draft round 4: Tykee Smith, DB, Georgia

Day three of the draft has arrived and the Steelers have eliminated most of their top needs off the board. They do have a couple of spots on the roster that could use some upgrades to close out the event. Upgrading the slot cornerback spot is a need for the black and gold. They decide to try and go an alternate route by taking a versatile defensive back with Tykee Smith.

He has played all over the field at Georgia, and West Virginia before transferring. He played linebacker, safety, and in the slot during his time with both programs. He will likely be known as a safety, but he should provide instant starting competition for the slot role. It remains a need for the Steelers, and Smith helps fill that void.

Steelers mock draft round 6: Curtis Jacobs, LB, Penn State

Penn State wasn't the main target for the Steelers during the pre-draft process. They showed that by the minimal representation they had at their pro day. That does not rule out all Penn State players though. When you get into the later rounds, most players are fair game, but Pittsburgh normally likes to have some sort of pre-draft connection with a prospect.

Curtis Jacobs is the selection here as the Nittany Lion stays in Pennsylvania after the Steelers take him with their first sixth-round pick. The Patrick Queen signing sinks the immediate need at linebacker, but they need quality depth and competition for the other starting spot that will be given to Elandon Roberts otherwise. Jacobs is a speedy and athletic linebacker who should position himself on the roster well.

Steelers mock draft round 6: Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville

Running back is not a pressing need, but it is a spot where the black and gold could get stronger at. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will get the bulk of the carries. Even Cordarrelle Patterson could get some snaps at running back, but his main role will be as a returner. The Steelers could still consider taking a back in the later rounds of the draft.

Isaac Guerendo is the second pick in the sixth round for Pittsburgh. They have shown a good amount of interest in the Louisville runner during the pre-draft process. He is a big athletic back who has shown an ability to become an all-around player at his position. The Steelers get another quality value selection here with Guerendo, as they also secure a deeper running back group.

Steelers mock draft round 7 (Via Green Bay): Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame

The black and gold have their final selection towards the end of the seventh-round draft via Green Bay from the earlier trade. The Steelers could go in a couple of directions here, but they decide to go with their best available and that turned out to be Sam Hartman. They just signed Kyle Allen earlier in the offseason, but this provides depth and competition at quarterback.

Hartman has a wealth of starting knowledge coming out of college. He just wasn't able to take the next step. He should be able to compete with Allen in camp for the third spot on the roster. It will be a learning year for Hartman so he can hopefully mold into the backup for years to come as either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will try and become the starting option.