Steelers Pass Up Devon Witherspoon for Rising Star in Four-Round Mock Draft
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers attack their defense in NFL Network's latest four-round mock draft, but how they do so will leave some surprised.
While Pittsburgh has been handed a cornerback or offensive tackle in seemingly all the mock drafts, NFL Network's Chad Reuter changes things up. Passing on Devon Witherspoon, who is drafted with pick 18 to the Detroit Lions, the Steelers select Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith.
"The Steelers shouldn’t be concerned about Smith's lack of elite size for the position (6-foot-2 1/4, 238 pounds) because he has the get-off and quick, strong hands to win on the outside. The team could use more help off the edge to push quarterbacks toward star pass rusher T.J. Watt, with Alex Highsmith in the final year of his rookie deal," Reuter writes.
In Round 2, the Steelers select Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison, who has been named a potential candidate for Pittsburgh. He'd step in with the expectation of competing with Dan Moore Jr. in 2023 and eventually filling the left tackle role at some point in the future.
At pick 49, the Steelers slide back to safety, selecting Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson.
With Terrell Edmunds signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh is in need of a safety behind Damontae Kazee and Minkah Fitzpatrick. They currently have Tre Norwood and Miles Killebrew adding depth behind the two starters.
In Round 3, Pittsburgh sticks with their defense and fill their nose tackle position with Baylor's Siaki Ika. They then finish off their first four rounds at pick 120 with Texas A&M cornerback Jaylon Jones.
Jones is still considered a high-upside player who can play behind Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace. Ika will be looked at as a potential Day 1 starter to plug the middle of the defensive line after the departure of Tyson Alualu.
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