The dawn of the new league year is here, and with it comes the opening of free agency. The Steelers have been active in cutting some dead weight from their roster, and now they are left with some money to spend, a lot of holes, and some draft picks to wrap things up.
Before the proverbial poop hits the fan, I want to throw out another mock draft. This mock is focused entirely on players that I believe fit what this team wants/looks for but also fill the most pressing needs. With free agency likely to bring in a few new starters, this mock could see some shift as needs fluctuate. That said, here is my pre-free agency mock draft for the Steelers.
Steelers mock draft round 1: Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
While fans have been quick to deem Jackson Powers-Johnson the savior of this Steelers offensive line, I opt to look in another direction. I think Powers-Johnson is a plug-and-play center with decent upside, but I don’t think he is a lock to be the best center from this class.
While listed as a tackle still in some circles, Graham Barton has been playing a lot of center and interior lineman snaps during the predraft process. He looks the part as well on tape, as he is your classic grader that, while a potential tackle, seems to fit best along the interior. There is some projection here, but he screams elite center if he develops as he should.
There may be some early miscues as he relearns the position, but Barton is my pick for a first-round center given his stronger play, better size, and higher potential. While my heart is set on a tackle with the first pick given the depth in this class, center is easily the biggest team need, and Barton addresses it in a major way.
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Steelers mock draft round 2: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
While Georgia has been on a roll with churning out top-level offensive and defensive linemen in recent years, their record at cornerback has been more hit-and-miss. Kamari Lassiter is the next in line to try and churn out a solid career, and he certainly looks the part on tape of a potential top cornerback in the league.
I will say that he doesn’t fit the mold of what the Steelers have seemed to want at cornerback under this new regime. He doesn’t have the alien-like build of a Joey Porter or Cory Trice, but even though he is a little under 6 feet tall, he can still play on the outside. He is an aggressive defender that is sticky to a receiver and makes any catch hard.
He is also a good player in run support and is more than willing to lay out anyone with a big hit. He can struggle against bigger receivers, as he lacks the size and length to properly press them. That said, can recover if beaten off the line to contest the catch. He doesn’t make a lot of big plays, but he is a steady defender that plays hard every snap.
While the lack of splash and elite speed will likely prevent him from ever being a top cornerback, he seems like a more than capable second option who can do his part to shut down offenses. If he really struggles on the outside, he could also eventually move into the slot given his physicality. I’m personally not banging the table for an outside cornerback early, but it is one of the bigger perceived needs.
Steelers mock draft round 3: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
If the Steelers decide to bypass a tackle in the first round (a move I would argue is a mistake given the generational depth in the first round), Patrick Paul sticks out as a realistic option for the team on day two. While he will need some time to develop his technique and play with some more strength, he has the makings of a quality starting tackle down the road.
What stands out about Paul is his immense size. Almost 6’8, 330 pounds, with over 36” arms. If the Steelers were building a tackle in a lab, he would come out looking a lot like Paul. Despite his immense size, he is still a decent athlete that can work well in space. He should be able to play on the left or right side down the road.
His blocking is very raw. He won in school because of his length, as he could make first contact with defensive linemen and work them out of the play. Against stronger defenders though, Paul lost leverage and gave up ground. His pass blocking appears better on tape, but again, his length has more to do with that. He will need a lot of seasoning at the pro level if he wants to become a viable starter.
He has some time to learn if he comes to the Steelers. Yes, that means Dan Moore would once again be the starter, but he can play out the final year of his deal and give Paul the season to serve as the swing tackle and top backup. There is a lot of projection here, but Paul’s ceiling is through the roof.
Steelers mock draft round 4: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
The Steelers have been very open that they would like to add another contributor at linebacker, as it seems that Cole Holcomb may still need some time to heal from his leg injury. With that in mind, I wanted to find a more modern linebacker with some speed who can play in space to complement Elandon Roberts.
I landed on Cedric Gray, as he seems to have the tools to excel at the position but needs to work on his ability to read the play What stands out on tape instantly is his athleticism, as he is constantly running all over the field and chasing down runners. That athleticism showed up at the combine as well.
As we know from Devin Bush though, athleticism isn’t everything, but Gray seems to be a more aggressive player than Bush was. He can shoot through gaps in the run game and can make some plays in coverage. He has the makings of a three-down linebacker eventually because of this.
Where he struggles is when reading the play. He can be a tad slow and is more of a reactionary linebacker as opposed to anticipating what the offense is doing. As well, he struggles to take on blocks and shed them in the run game. He needs to work on those elements as a player, but he could settle into a starting role eventually given his strengths.
Steelers mock draft round 4: James Williams, S, Miami
Personally, I hope safety doesn’t end up being a position the Steelers draft this season unless it is with one of their last two picks. The free agency safety market is flooded with good names who can start next to Minkah Fitzpatrick. This means the defense can find a starter there and likely at a fair price, as all of the available options may drive each other's price down.
With this being before free agency though, there is an inherent need for a strong safety that can play in the box. James Williams would provide that, and his home in the NFL will be either there or as a hybrid linebacker eventually. If Pittsburgh for some reason ignores the safety market, he makes sense given their release of Keanu Neal.
Williams is your classic oversized box safety with the athleticism to make plays close to the line of scrimmage. The deeper he plays, the worse his tape gets. While not his strong suit, he does have the ability to play man-defense and work against tight ends when needed.
In terms of need, safety has to be one of the bigger ones right now given the fact there is no running mate next to Fitzpatrick. I have high hopes that a free agent is brought in to fix this. If the team enters the draft with safety still as a need though, Williams fits what the team will want to do at the position.
Steelers mock draft round 6: Zion Logue, DL, Georgia
We are double dipping on Georgia defensive linemen this year, although I have significantly higher hopes for the first defender on this list as opposed to the second. Zion Logue getting drafted here would be reminiscent of Isaiahh Loudermilk from a few seasons ago. The tape isn’t there, but the body size is.
Despite playing at Georgia for a while, he never developed into a stable starter. While his size is appealing he lacks the pass-rush plan to be effective there right now. He could eventually be a rotational player, but he has the size this team wants so they take a player who fits that mold.
Steelers mock draft round 7: Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame
While quarterback is a need for this team, I found it hard to slot in a player anywhere in this draft. Instead, we take a flyer in the seventh round on a player I doubt becomes the next quarterback sensation like Brock Purdy, but could be a stable backup for a few years on the cheap.
Sam Hartman lacks the elite play or traits, but he can hold his own for a few games and make the open play. If things go sideways he could potentially step in and start, but the potential really isn’t there. That said, if you keep your expectations in check, Hartman could be a fine late-draft pick.
Free agency will certainly change the needs of this team, but before anyone can get signed, I wanted to address their needs via the draft. These will likely change as new names are brought in, but this is the best route to fill the current needs of this team.