Steelers Mock Draft: Fans should be thankful for his amazing haul

The end of November is upon us, and thus I release the next rendition of my Steelers mock draft. This team has defied expectations and is in the driver's seat of a postseason run, but this roster isn’t without its warts. The core of the roster has some strength and youth though, which makes this next draft that much more important.

For this mock, I’ve included a few important details. For starters, the team has opted to retain Russell Wilson. That shouldn’t take a quarterback off the board in the first round, but the right value has to be there. The team also commits itself long-term to George Pickens long-term while also letting Najee Harris walk. All of that is out of the way, here is an updated mock draft Steelers fans should be thankful for.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 1: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Despite a projected new deal for Pickens, the Steelers need to address the receiver room in a desperate way. They lack options next to him, and with a new deal, they won’t be able to afford a great veteran. Calvin Austin has been a good role player and Roman Wilson will, hopefully, work out of the slot, but another capable outside receiver is still needed.

READ MORE: The Steelers have a massive George Pickens problem on their hands

Elic Ayomanor is a unique receiver to this room. He isn’t a great vertical threat, but he runs good routes and finds ways to get open on short routes. He is also a good option with the ball in his hands, using his twitchy athletic ability and size to bully defenders. He needs to be sharper with some of his routes, but he has the makings of a great X receiver.

While receiver and West Coast teams have historically been off the Steelers radar, Omar Khan has shown a willingness to buck trends. Ayomanor is also young, which means his best football is ahead of him. Including him in the room gives the team a great core with some decent depth, a stark contrast to the room this year.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 2: Alfred Collins, DL, Texas

While I am starting to become reserved to the fact that Larry Ogunjobi will be around for another season, this team needs a significant investment at defensive end. Assuming he returns, it is likely Ogunjobi’s last year with the team. Cameron Heyward is playing at a high level, but at his age, who knows how long that level will persist?

As per usual, I hunt after the body type that the team covets and landed on Alfred Collins. He has the size and length to play at end, but also has experience as a nose tackle, meaning he could allow Keeanu Benton to see more snaps elsewhere. He is a freak athlete for his size with all of the tools to be a really good starter.

The issue is that his tools haven’t always translated. He is raw as a pass rusher, mainly relying on strength to win. He is also more adept at just taking up space than actually making plays himself, another notion that he could move inside and allow Benton to work as an end. He needs some work, but he could have some time to develop and learn behind the current talent on the roster.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 3: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

No matter what happens with the room in the offseason, the Steelers should be all over the quarterback room in this draft class. I'm assuming Wilson returns, but given his age and streaky play, you can’t count on him for the long term. This quarterback class has a lot of players with a lot of tools, but most aren’t ready to start day one.

Drew Allar is one such prospect. He has the size you want in a prospect and the arm strength to do some damage in the passing game, but his footwork is sloppy and his mechanics are a mess. He also lacks the athleticism to do much on the ground. He can escape the pocket and buy some time, but he lacks the mobility to make plays on his own.

The benefit of adding him here is that he has the upside to eventually start, but you can afford to not play your third-round pick right away. Allar could learn behind Wilson for a year or two and then throw his name into the starting conversation once Wilson is no longer with the team. The odds are long that a mid-round quarterback succeeds, but Allar is young enough to warrant taking that risk.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 4: Le’Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M

With Harris likely playing his last season with the Steelers, the team will need to rebuild the running back room. My assumption I that Jaylen Warren will be brought back, but he works best in a rotation. Le’Veon Moss would give them just that, as he was dynamic before a leg injury ended his season prematurely.

He is an explosive runner who plays bigger than his listed size. Unlike Harris, Moss has the acceleration to burst through holes and then has the physicality to avoid tacklers in the secondary. His receiving ability is lacking and he struggles in pass protection, but Warren makes up for that. He would give the team a powerful one-two punch on the ground.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 5: Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin

While the Steelers likely won’t be able to dedicate their top picks to the offensive line given their recent investments, there is still room for more talent. With Dan Moore likely playing elsewhere next year, Broderick Jones will need to prove that he can play left tackle at a high level. Based on his play this season, that should very much be in doubt.

Jack Nelson has the frame this team loves in their tackles. He is a refined blocker who lacks the physical traits to be dominant at the next level, but as a swing tackle or even a low-end starter, he should thrive. Ideally, he becomes a quality third option and depth, but if Jones continues to struggle, he could make a push to play on the left side.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Dante Trader, DB, Maryland

While the Steelers have a pair of capable safeties as starters, their depth will be short next year. Dante Trader is a versatile player who lacks a best position but can wear a lot of hats. He can play in the box, deep, or even in the slot, although his coverage ability isn’t the best. He has the athleticism and physicality to do well on special teams as well, so he makes a lot of sense this late in the draft.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan

Donovan Edwards is a hard player to figure out. On one hand, he is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands and can take and run or pass to the house. On the other hand, he isn’t a great athlete and he struggles to see holes open up behind the line. I think he could turn into a fine returner with the ability to be a contributor in the backfield, and I’m always happy to take a shot at running back talent late in the draft.

Steelers Mock Draft Round 7: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

Dillion Gabriel is everything that Allar isn’t. He lacks the size and arm strength to be an elite prospect, but he is more mobile and has better mechanics as a passer. He has an extremely low ceiling, and you are taking him with the hope that he would win the number three spot and eventually be a backup, but he has the traits to do well there. For a team with long-term quarterback questions, he could provide them with a solid backup.