Steelers mock draft with trades: Pittsburgh bolsters roster with strong draft class
Mock. . Payton Wilson. 3. . player. 442. . Linebacker. Payton Wilson
Steelers mock draft round 3: Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
After a season plagued by injuries in the Inside Linebacker group, Pittsburgh aims to address the absence left by Cole Holcomb, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury. With the 84th pick, the Steelers select Payton Wilson, the Bednarik Award and Butkus Award winner.
Wilson, an athletic and physical inside linebacker, showcases his ability to fly around and make impactful tackles. With an unwavering effort in the run game and great athleticism in pass coverage, Wilson emerges as a well-rounded player who could become a cornerstone for the defense for years to come, provided he stays healthy.
Similar to the Michael Hall Jr. pick in the previous round, this selection may not appear as an immediate must-address need. However, there's no player on the roster in the long-term plans at Inside Linebacker. While Cole Holcomb is on the books for two more years, Pittsburgh needs another player alongside him.
In the first three rounds of this mock draft, the Steelers have targeted players with a genuine passion for the game, evident in their on-field effort and play with championship-level mindset. Payton Wilson exemplifies this attitude, offering everything he's got and that's the attributes to look for when building a winning foundation.