Steelers Mock Draft: Pittsburgh triples down on the trenches early

Steelers mock draft round 4: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

Another riser from Senior Bowl week was Ricky Pearsall. He started his career strong at Arizona State. But after a couple of years of struggling to keep things consistent in the desert, Pearsall decided to transfer. He went to a more humid climate and chose the Florida Gators as his next program. It was the right decision as he has enjoyed some of his best years there.

Production was decent during his first season at Florida, but nothing to write home about. He did however decide to return for his fifth-year option, and it was the right call. He had his best season yet and almost eclipsed the 1,000-receiving yardage mark. He was able to elevate his game to another level and many NFL scouts have started to take notice.

Pearsall is a smaller prospect who could put on some more weight at the next level. The Steelers are going to love his ability to separate once he gets going. They need a long-term answer in the slot and this receiver should be able to make his money in the NFL there. He should be able to slide into that role on day one, or at least challenge for it.

Pittsburgh has struggled to fill the slot receiver role in the past couple of years. Allen Robinson II makes too much money to keep around and didn't do much catching the ball this past season. Adding someone like Pearsall will help fix those issues. His limited production and light frame could be a little concerning, but his ability to separate makes him a quality selection here.