We are roughly a week into the free agency process as players were able to sign new deals starting last Wednesday. It was a week full of fast-paced news that covered the airways throughout the cities of each one of the 32 teams. The Steelers were heavily active in the first week, which concluded with the addition of Isaac Seumalo recently.
Adding to the trenches and re-signing some key free agents were high on the to-do list for Pittsburgh entering this phase of the offseason. Even though there were some key things accomplished in free agency, there are still plenty of holes to fill. Most should assume that the black and gold will attack those needs through the draft, but they could still sign another free agent or two in the coming weeks.
Steelers mock draft round 1: CB Deonte Banks
Round one rolls on and plenty of talented offensive line fly off the board in the top 12. That could mean that the Steelers look to some players like Dawand Jones and Broderick Jones at pick 17 if they are still available. They take a gamble here and go with a cornerback in round one by selecting Deonte Banks out of Maryland. The club desperately needs some quality young blood in the fold, and they get that here.
Banks has been rising up draft boards the further the pre-draft process has been moving along. He is a perfect sized corner that tested well during the combine. Joey Porter Jr. will likely be in play if he is still available at pick 17, but he was gone at this juncture of the simulation. Banks needs some more development at the next level, but he should press Levi Wallace for his starting job once training camp opens.
Steelers mock draft round 2: OT Dawand Jones
Adding a left tackle should be the cherry on top for the black and gold when you look at what they have been doing this offseason. They select Dawand Jones to become their blind side protector of Kenny Pickett going forward and shove Dan Moore Jr. down to the swing tackle role. Jones would fit the mold for what the Steelers are adding to the trenches this offseason, a big force that will knock you around.
Many should envision Pittsburgh considering Jones in the first round, especially with the way offensive tackles rise draft boards the closer the event gets. Taking this prospect at pick 32 is great value and it allows for another immediate impact player to enter the fold. Taking someone like Jones or Broderick Jones would cement a tremendous offseason of upgrading the offensive line to a better tomorrow.
Steelers mock draft round 2: LB Daiyan Henley
Linebacker is another focus heading into the draft despite the team adding two in free agency. Cole Holcomb will be a starter on defense, but Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson cannot be the only options to be the second starter on defense. Jack Campbell seems like someone the Steelers would love to get at this point in the draft, but he is not there when the team is selecting.
Daiyan Henley enters the fold here as Pittsburgh goes with a pretty good backup plan in the draft. He is an athletic linebacker that can control the middle of the field. Henley is a highly productive player that should be able to handle the coverage aspect that the black and gold will demand from him.
Steelers mock draft round 3: WR Nathaniel Dell
It seems like conjecture around the Steelers seems to be pointing toward the team drafting a receiver earlier in the draft than many had originally thought. Jordan Addison will get a lot of attention, but he will be too rich of a spot to be selected by the black and gold. Mike Tomlin is keeping a close eye on the position during some of his Pro Day visits, and receiver could be a top choice.
Nathaniel Dell is the selection in the third round by Pittsburgh as he provides explosive play making ability. Adding to a thin group is something the club could not pass up, especially with Dell dropping as he did in this simulation. He did have some punt return experience this past season, but he will likely not push for that job. Calvin Austin III will likely get that gig and could also push for some playing time this season.
Steelers mock draft round 4: DT Keondre Coburn
Bringing back Larry Ogunjobi was a huge piece of the puzzle and allows the club to put the defensive line on the back burner in the earlier rounds. The depth across the defensive line is still scarce and needs some attention, especially when it comes to nose tackle and some run pluggers along the front. If Chris Wormley is healthy at some point this season, it would make sense to bring him around for some quality depth.
Keondre Coburn is the selection here to compete with Montravius Adams for the starting nose tackle spot. Both are big guys, but Adams regressed last season when compared to the year he had before that. Coburn should be able to come into camp and potentially win that role as well as other depth spots to stop the run.
Steelers mock draft round 7: TE Will Mallory
Zach Gentry is still currently unsigned on the free agent market and could find his way back to the Steelers. That would rule out the addition of a tight end through the draft, but he has yet to make a decision. The Steelers end up drafting Will Mallory out of Miami to come in and compete for their last spot at the position.
He is a big target that can catch the ball fairly well, but he still has a lot of work to do. Mallory needs to work on his strength and blocking ability when he gets to the next level. That is something that should remind plenty of Gentry when he was coming out of Michigan.
Steelers mock draft round 7: QB Stetson Bennett
One of the things that has not gotten a lot of media attention recently is the fact the Steelers only have two quarterbacks on their roster currently. They normally like to carry three signal callers on their club when the regular season starts up, and this year will not be any different. Free agency does not seem like a viable option with plenty of backups getting chunks of cash thrown in their direction.
Their last pick in the 2023 draft is used on Stetson Bennett out of Georgia. He has done a lot of winning during his time as the starter. He does nothing flashy, but he has shown the ability to compete with a solid team around him, which the Steelers should be able to field. Bennett would be a nice addition behind Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky as a developmental backup this year.