It's Senior Bowl week and the game caps off a handful of days filled with competitive practices. Some prospects will show some quality play during this time while others will struggle to accomplish anything. Their draft stock will be directly affected by how they complete the pre-draft process, and all of that starts this week for those prospects invited.
Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have been in the mix during practices this week and getting a close look at some positions of need. They have seemed to home in on the trenches and some of the top prospects in attendance like Quinyon Mitchell. Many different things could change how the outlook of the draft will change between now and the end of April when the event is set to kick off.
Buffalo and the Steelers pull off a trade in round one of the draft
A lot of trades back in these mock drafts thus far for the Steelers. It hasn't happened in many years, but it could happen in the right scenario. Night one of the draft comes around and the Steelers have some quality options available at 20 when it's their turn to pick. They get a call from the Bills to move back eight spots, but they receive an opportunity to gain an extra second-round choice if they accept.
That offer turns out too good to pass up and the Steelers decide to make that deal. They do lose their final pick in the seventh round to this deal, but gaining that extra selection was too enticing. It would be the second draft in a row that the Steelers had two picks in the second round. This trade-back opens the door for many different possibilities on day two of this mock draft.
Pittsburgh would be thrilled with this move, but deep down they don't like the idea of waiting another eight picks after a long night of waiting. Expect the black and gold to look at all kinds of options on night one of the draft. If they get an offer they cannot refuse, then they would be crazy to pass on it. A great trade for the Steelers as the Bills felt an urgency to move up and get a certain prospect.
Steelers kick off their mock draft with a Senior Bowl standout
Finally, after the long wait and trade back that caused the wait to go longer, the Steelers submitted their card. They decide to look over their draft board and decide on which prospect fits best available and also take care of a need. Since they moved back eight picks their decision has become clearer since some of their desired prospects had been taken.
They select Jackson Powers-Johnson out of Oregon with their first pick. He has been the best player down at the Senior Bowl and the Steelers might even consider him at pick 20 when the actual draft happens. He is the best center available and might be considered the best interior offensive lineman out of this draft class as a whole.
Expect the Steelers to show a lot of interest in the offensive line and Tomlin and Khan have already shown that down at the Senior Bowl. That is not the end-all-be-all when they draft players, but it is a start to showing their cards. Powers-Johnson had a couple of interactions with the Steelers so keep a close eye on him and if the club visits him at his pro day and beyond.
Powers-Johnson is an athletic player for the big size that he plays with. He should be able to provide an immediate upgrade over Mason Cole and any other options that might be on the roster. The Steelers need to find a long-term option at center and this prospect is that. Arthur Smith is the new offensive coordinator, and he demands plenty from his center.
Starting off round two with a tackle to upgrade the right tackle spot
The continuation of investment into the trenches is ongoing here as the Steelers enter night two of the draft. They wait a while until their pick arrives and they know that two picks in the second round are an asset. They observe to see if they feel the need to move up, but ultimately, they decide to sit around and wait. They get some quality options by the time the pick arrives.
Pittsburgh turns in the card and selects Parick Paul out of Houston. We know that Broderick Jones has to move over to the left tackle spot sooner rather than later because that is what they drafted him for. Dan Moore Jr. is a player they have rose-colored glasses for, but they need to finally move on. He would be better suited as a backup option.
Paul has been participating in the Senior Bowl this week. He has not had as good of a week as others who play the right tackle spot, but he has shown some quality things. He will be a starter in the NFL and should be able to gain that spot during his rookie campaign. He could likely have the same pathway to starting that Jones had.
The black and gold want to solve the issues in the trenches once and for all. With Chuks Okorafor probably getting either traded or cut this offseason, right tackle and depth at tackle should shoot up the Steeler's list of to-dos. Paul should be a solid right tackle starter and the Steelers finally round out an upgraded offensive line that should be together about halfway through the season.
Michael Hall rounds out the Steelers second round of the NFL Draft
One of the better weeks down at the Senior Bowl has been from Michael Hall. He does not have a ton of playing experience from his days at Ohio State, but he has a lot of tools that will entice teams. We know that Pittsburgh likes to search through the talent cupboards of Ohio State and they will likely look closely again this year at some of their prospects coming out of school.
Cam Heyward's future is something that might be somewhat in question. His cap number is high for an aging veteran who is coming off a significant injury. There are a couple of different alternatives that Khan can enact to keep Heyward around. Even if that cap number can't be softened, then it makes little sense for Heyward to be a cap casualty for the Steelers.
Keeanu Benton had a solid rookie year, and it seems like he could turn into a great starter in the trenches for the club. Many have started to compare him to a Stephon Tuitt type. A guy who is great and can make a significant impact, but someone who cannot be the number one option. With Larry Ogunjobi potentially being a cap casualty, it seems like the defensive line might be a top priority.
Some of the reporters that have sources believe that the Steelers will try and add a defensive lineman early in the draft. Hall is someone with a huge ceiling but little production during his time at Ohio State. The black and gold will like what he does and if he can have a great combine and workout at his pro day, then he could be right in this conversation on day two of the draft.
Secondary help is on the way to close out the second day of the draft
Another Senior Bowl participant here is Josh Newton out of TCU. He has pretty much kept his draft stock steady and has not swayed in better or worse. Perhaps the combine will be his big event that will change his draft status for better or worse. Finding a cornerback seems to be something the Steelers would love to find in the middle rounds of the draft.
Slot cornerback might be one of the bigger needs, but don't forget how much the Steelers struggled on the outside opposite of Joey Porter Jr. Ideally, the Steelers will be able to fill the slot role in free agency as it should be less costly. That will open the door to a starting cornerback option in the draft and that is what the Steelers do.
Newton doesn't have an ideal frame that most NFL corners have, but he is a physical guy who can handle press coverage well. That is something the Steelers would like to see in their starting cornerbacks and that is what Newton brings. He should be a day-two prospect and Pittsburgh gets good value here with his selection.
A great first three rounds for the Steelers in this mock draft. They get four starters at different positions of need on offense and defense. It allows them to open up their draft board to the best player available going forward. Free agency could change the idea of cornerback in this draft, but that need will probably be filled in the draft and not free agency.
Surprising pick here as the black and gold add some offensive firepower
Kicking off the final day of the draft with a bang as the Steelers add an explosive receiver to their arsenal. He had a lot of starting experience during his time of play. It might not seem like the Steelers need a receiver right now, but that could quickly turn. If they elect to shock the world and move either Diontae Johnson or George Pickens, they will need to draft someone even higher.
Slot receiver has been a revolving door for years now and it is beyond time to find a long-term solution there. Pittsburgh settles on Jacob Cowing out of Arizona to help their depth issues and fix their slot role on offense. Cowing can play both inside and outside. Many have projected him in the slot at the next level since his size isn't huge.
Allen Robinson II has little to no chance of returning to the Steelers next season unless he returns on a significant pay cut. It would be crazy for the black and gold to bring him back with a 10-million-dollar cap hit. The slot role will be looking for a replacement and Cowing should be an upgrade. He will be able to be a more effective receiver than Robinson, but he might struggle some as a blocker.
A good move here as it allows two smaller explosive players with Cowing and Calvin Austin III on the depth chart. The Steelers could always look to draft a receiver earlier in the draft if certain situations play out. With Robinson out the door, drafting Cowing will bring in a starting-caliber prospect who should be able to slide into the slot role immediately.
An underrated prospect in Jaden Hicks becomes the future at safety
There are many different prospects in the top rounds at safety that will interest the Steelers. One name to monitor is Tykee Smith out of Georgia, but taking a safety that early might be too risky. One thing is for sure, the Steelers need to find long-term solutions at safety. Minkah Fitzpatrick had to change his role since the others on the roster were disappointed.
He did a good job there when healthy, but the Steelers need more options. Jaden Hicks might be the best option available left in the draft at the point of this pick. We know that Hicks has a great frame to fill the strong safety spot that has struggled in consistency since Terrell Edmunds left the team. This is another position that could see a lot of changes.
Both Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal did not work out as a trio look with Fitzpatrick. Most of that was because of health issues and a suspension. Even when they were healthy, this safety group was not the answer. It might be the best option for the Steelers to cut one or both of Kazee and Neal this offseason. Maybe only one will be let go since the Steelers will probably want a veteran there.
Free agency could be a good option but someone like Hicks is a physical player that knows how to play the game the right way. The draft would be tricky to get a starting safety this late, but Hicks should be able to come in and challenge for the spot next to Fitzpatrick. Hicks has everything that the Steelers will be looking for in their next starting safety.
Steelers round out this mock draft by taking a flyer on a quarterback
Wrapping up the draft class here with a project at quarterback. Joe Milton III at this pick is great value. Many should assume that he will go in the middle rounds of the draft. He has a strong arm, but there are a handful of issues that happen with him. He is participating in the Senior Bowl so his arm should be the strongest in attendance. It's other parts of his games that are flawed.
His decision-making has routinely been the biggest concern. He needs to have someone patient enough to help coach him up. Milton needs to learn offenses and figure out ways to dissect the opposition's defense. If he can accomplish that, then he will be able to become a great quarterback at the next level. This pick is somewhat of a gamble.
Pittsburgh needs to rejuvenate its quarterback room. Kenny Pickett is going to get one last shot at being the starting quarterback next season, but those behind him are in question. They want Mason Rudolph back, but he is a free agent so anything could happen. They will probably bring in a veteran to back him up if Rudolph does leave. Mitch Trubisky won't be back next year so that leaves an opening.
Expect the Steelers to take a quarterback anywhere from the mid to late rounds of the upcoming draft. They take Milton here who is someone who has a high ceiling but could turn out to be a player that isn't NFL-worthy if he doesn't get proper coaching. Worth a shot as he will be the third-string option for the Steelers for at least a couple of years and will hopefully develop into a starting-caliber guy.