We officially began the pre-draft process after the All-Star weekend last week and completed the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl. Both games allow prospects to try and start raising their draft stocks early in the process. The Steelers were present and kept a close eye on many players in attendance. It also showed what they might be looking for.
There are a couple of needs that the Steelers need to figure out. Plenty of other situations could arise with the club being currently over the cap ceiling as they get ready to head into the offseason. They will surely make a lot of cap space and be in the market during free agency to some degree. This mock draft worked out perfectly for the Steelers as it addressed needs and got some quality value picks too.
Steelers mock draft round 1: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Right now, Jer'Zhan Newton is ranked as a top 15 prospect on most draft boards. he would be tremendous value for the Steelers if he fell to their 20th overall pick in the draft. He is someone who has not been in many mock drafts of Pittsburgh, but it isn't completely out of the realm of possibility that he drops some. He was able to in this simulation.
The Steelers would love to get someone like Newton who can be an immediate impact player on the defensive front. Pittsburgh has to reinvest in these types of players since Cam Heyward's long-term future is starting to dwindle. Adding someone like Newton next to Keeanu Benton will only strengthen the future of the Steeler's defensive line.
He comes out of Illinois as a Junior, but he has had two strong seasons of production these past couple of years. He is a menace in both rushing the passer and defending against the run. He is still young and has a lot more room to grow, which is impressive with the talent he will already bring with him into the NFL. Newton would fix a lot of concerns along the defensive front for the Steeler's future defense.
Steelers mock draft round 2: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Night two of the draft finally kicks off and the Steelers hold one pick in the second round and another in the third. They decide to sit still and wait until their pick in the second round. Eventually, it comes and they want to add a tackle. There are a couple of quality options on the board both at tackle and center, but they decided to select Patrick Paul out of Houston.
He had a strong week at the Senior Bowl and is someone that should be able to slide into the starting right tackle spot. The biggest concern going with this pick here would be Paul only having experience at left tackle during his college days. Broderick Jones should get the first crack there as the Steelers traded up in the first round last year to get him.
The best way to sort out the solution would be to have Jones, Paul, and Dan Moore Jr. battle for both starting spots on the left and right sides. The winner will get the starting spots, but Paul is someone who should be able to make that transition to the right side. Or if he becomes the upgrade over Moore on the left and Jones stays on the right, then that would be ok too.
Paul has only allowed one sack in the past two seasons as the starting left tackle at Houston. That number is extremely impressive. It gets even better when you realize he was credited for surrendering four sacks throughout his college career. Paul would be a nice value get at this point in the draft and the Steelers find another tackle upgrade on offense.
Steelers mock draft round 3: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Holy smokes this would be icing on the cake for a great first three selections for the Steelers in this draft. Getting Zach Frazier to fall to their third-round selection would be like a dream coming true. It might not be totally out of the realm of possibility, but many have him being a more realistic pick in the second-round territory for the upcoming draft at the moment.
He seems to be the top center that the Steelers like in the upcoming draft, and he could end up being the pick in the second round when the draft rolls around in April. He is a tremendous fit both with his physicality and how he can block out in space. Frazier would be a nice addition to Arthur Smith's offensive style that he will try and implement.
West Virginia is a short drive from the city of Pittsburgh so that local connection will be there. Expect Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan to be at their pro day and keeping close tabs on this center. The Steelers need an upgrade at the anchor point on their offensive line. They haven't had a good one there since Maurkice Pouncey retired a couple of years ago.
Mason Cole could be a cap casualty, but even if he returns there needs to be realistic competition to push for his starting spot. Frazier would provide that and would likely take over Cole's spot sometime this upcoming season. Cole's contract is about to expire soon, so locking in the future centerpiece in the trenches would be a wise decision made here by Pittsburgh.
Steelers mock draft round 4: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
If Khyree Jackson had more quality experience as a starter past his one year, then he would be in the first-round conversation. His length is off the charts and will get plenty of NFL teams interested. Again, the biggest concern about taking Jackson will be betting that his one year of starting at a top school will carry over to the next level.
The Steelers decide to bank on his upside here as they could have other options on the team to challenge for the opposite starting spot of Joey Porter Jr. Patrick Peterson could be a cap casualty, but Tomlin will likely want to keep him for leadership and position flexibility. Rumor has it Pittsburgh will try and bring back Levi Wallace, which should make fans squirm.
Cory Trice Jr. will be back after missing his entire rookie campaign due to an injury that he suffered in training camp. He has a long-ranging injury history so he cannot be counted on. Jackson is someone who could potentially slide into the starting lineup if needed. Or perhaps he will get the Porter treatment and be brought along slowly like last year.
Jackson is a prospect where you are betting on his upside prevailing. He has tremendous size that will be one of his best traits. He produced at a high level in 2023 for Oregon after transferring over from Alabama. He had a strong Senior Bowl after a short injury setback earlier in the week. If he continues to test well then, he could enter the day two conversation come draft time.
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.
Steelers mock draft round 6: Sam Hartman, QB, Notre Dame
Plenty of offense is being taken in this mock draft by the Steelers, and that should be magic to many ears of the fans. The club needs their offense to get to another level next season and with a mock draft like this, they seem to be on the right path. Smith is an experienced play caller, but he needs quality players to help him run the offense.
Kenny Pickett will likely be the starting quarterback next season until he either proves he is the guy or gets benched for poor performances. Hopefully, it's the version where he shows he can be the franchise quarterback and has a breakout year. Otherwise, the quarterback position becomes another big target in the offseason next year if a solution isn't located this time around.
Anyhow, the Steelers decide to use one of their later picks on a quarterback and take Sam Hartman. He just seems like someone who will have a long pro career. He might not be a starting quarterback often in the NFL, but he should be able to develop into a quality backup option for NFL teams. He has a lot of playing experience and is a smart player.
He is entering the NFL about to turn 25 years old so that is somewhat of a downgrade. The Steelers just need to fill out their quarterback room here and they get a quality option with a high floor that should be able to be the number two option in a year or two. Hartman has plenty of good qualities that should transfer over well to the NFL, but his ceiling might be limited.
Steelers mock draft round 7: Nathan Thomas, OT, Louisiana
Welcome to the project piece of the mock draft. Rounding out this draft class simulation is Nathan Thomas out of Louisiana. We know the Steelers are not afraid to take players out of this program as players like Ike Taylor and Kevin Dotson are a few examples of prior draft selections to come out of it. Double dipping at offensive tackle might seem crazy, but Pittsburgh needs help.
Moore will not always be with the Steelers, and it might be a good idea to look into future replacements for him. Thomas is someone that needs work at the next level and it could take him a while before he gets a shot at starting or even getting a quality reserve role. That is ok, and it could wind up a draft bust or maybe you have the next Kelvin Beachum on your hands.
Jones has given up a lot of pressure on his quarterback in college. That is the main issue. He seems to play functionally well and with good technique. Many scouts have claimed that he needs to grow his physical strength and conditioning to find success at the NFL level. That is something the Steelers are willing to do by taking him.
Adding Thomas with the final selection allows Pittsburgh to have a competition for the last depth tackle on the roster. It also allows for them to potentially have an option to be their future tackle or at least in a depth role. This was a strong draft class for the black and gold in this simulation. It would be tremendous if the draft played out like this.