Steelers Mock Draft 3.0: Positions Haven't Changed, Names Have
NFL Draft weekend is finally here and it's time to put the finishing touches on my final predictive Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft.
I get this weird feeling that new general manager Omar Khan is going to go full anti-Kevin Colbert and move all around the draft board, leaving all of our mock drafts essentially useless. But nonetheless, I'm here to give it my best shot.
Over the past three seasons, one of my two predictive mocks has nailed one of the Steelers' selections (Alex Highsmith in 2020, Najee Harris in 2021 and George Pickens in 2022). If I can keep this trend rolling for at least another year, I'll be a happy camper.
Full disclosure: this is what I think the Steelers will do, which does not necessarily mean it's what I would recommend personally.
Here. We. Go.
Round 1, Pick 17: OT Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
In recent days, it is beginning to sound like the run on tackles might occur earlier than expected, and while the Steelers could very well move up for their tackle of choice, I feel best about Darnell Wright being available at 17. Assistant general manager Andy Weidl has a reputation for building in the trenches dating back to his time in Philadelphia, and if the Steelers free agency moves didn't give it away: they are prioritizing physicality and protecting Kenny Pickett at all costs. Did I mention that Weidl and Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer both attended Wright's pro day last month before also having him in for a top-30 visit?
Wright's physical play style and bully mentality up front mesh perfectly with Pat Meyer's coaching philosophy. While he has plenty of left tackle experience, he didn't truly break out until his senior season operating on the right side of the line. Wright put on a clinic in 2022, shutting down several of the SEC's finest pass rushers, including Alabama's Will Anderson and LSU's B.J. Ojulari. He offers plus anchoring ability, and surprising recovery ability for a man his size while also consistently generating displacement in the run game. Pittsburgh has made tackle a high priority throughout the process, and Wright fits the mold and should push for a starting job early during his rookie contract.
Round 2, Pick 32: CB Tyrique Stevenson (Miami)
Pittsburgh has spent a ridiculous amount of time on the top of this cornerback class, but with the position being deeper than tackle, I could see them waiting until round two to address the need. Stevenson has been a hot name on social media after former Steelers cornerback and current scout Ike Taylor raved about him on his podcast. He was also brought in for a top-30 visit after having a formal meeting with the club at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, so there is definitely smoke, potentially even fire. Pittsburgh signed Patrick Peterson as a stop-gap option in the secondary, but they don't even have a developmental piece on the roster and have more questions than answers at this position when viewing it through a long-term lens.
Stevenson's the height/weight/speed prospect that the organization has been looking for but hasn't quite been able to find/develop. After starting his career at Georgia, playing some slot corner in a reserve role, he transferred to Miami, where he truly broke out and put himself on the NFL map. Stevenson has patient feet, which are a big asset to him in press coverage but has the length and physicality to bother receivers early in the route. I anticipate that there will be a run on corners around this range, and Pittsburgh won't feel comfortable waiting much longer to snag their guy. Stevenson can potentially work himself into the cornerback rotation as early as his rookie season and offers CB2 upside, thanks to his enticing physical traits.
Round 2, Pick 49: EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State)
The Steelers can't go into yet another season without an NFL-caliber backup EDGE rusher, can they? I don't want to know what would happen if T.J. Watt were to again miss significant time and Alex Highsmith is also an impending free agent who's due to cash in for a big payday following a 14.5 sack season. Anudike-Uzomah tested like a prototypical Steelers EDGE with a 1004 broad jump and 6.94 3-cone at his pro day. He met formally with Steelers brass at the NFL Combine before being a top-30 visitor to the facility earlier this month. The outside linebacker position is the most important position in the Steelers' scheme, and I really believe that Pittsburgh is likely to address it earlier than most believe.
Anudike-Uzomah certainly checks the boxes from a testing standpoint, but the tape matches up as well. He already displays a pass rush plan where he can win by beating the outside shoulder of tackles or using his long arm/bull rush power attack to run his opponent's chest. Another reason that he screams "Steelers EDGE" to me is that he plays with an incredible hot motor that runs at 100 MPH every single rep, something that Pittsburgh's defense has taken great pride in over the years. As a rookie, he can step right in as the team's third guy in the rotation while he continues to get a bit stronger against the run and in the long term, he's a nice security blanket in the even that Pittsburgh can't justify spending $50 million per year on their outside linebacker tandem.
Round 3, Pick 80: IOL Chandler Zavala (NC State)
The end of day two is probably the earliest that Zavala could potentially hear his name called on draft weekend after not being invited to the NFL Combine. This might seem crazy on the surface but remember, the theme of the Steelers' offseason plans seems to be solely focused around getting better in the trenches. Offensive line coach Pat Meyer was at the NC State pro day and has some obvious strong ties within the program, having been their strength and conditioning coach many moons ago. Zavala obliterated the testing portion of his pro day and the Steelers had him in for a top-30 visit just days later. I'm just reading the tea leaves here.
Zavala is a finisher and really excels in the zone blocking game with the ability to reach block and get to the second level. The Shrine Bowl helped put him on the map earlier in the process, but some of his lack of buzz relates to the fact that he only started 17 games in college due to missing most of his junior season in 2021 with a back injury. When he's been on the field, he's been productive and consistently solid, allowing zero career sacks in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus. Pittsburgh signed Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig in free agency, but Mike Tomlin has been very honest about how fortunate the Steelers were to not have any injuries up front last season, signaling a need to continue adding depth. Zavala is a nice depth piece to an improving offensive line and could become a solid starter down the line.
Round 4, Pick 120: IDL Karl Brooks (Bowling Green)
Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar was present for Karl Brooks's pro day, one at which he didn't test well but was reportedly under the weather, gutting through the workout anyways. Earlier in the process, Mike Tomlin and company got a good look at the ultra-productive pass rusher in Mobile during the Senior Bowl. Pittsburgh invested a third-round pick last cycle in DeMarvin Leal (Dunbar was also at his pro day), but they currently don't seem to have a plan set in stone on where he'll play next season. Brooks has a bigger, more stout frame to make the transition to a 3T in the Steelers scheme.
Watching Brooks in college was a sight to behold as I'm not quite sure that I've ever seen a 300-pound human rush off the edge, much less with this much effectiveness. He can really get off the ball for a big man and he looked much quicker on tape than what his subpar testing metrics would indicate. The most intriguing part of his game is that his hand usage is incredibly refined, as he's constantly deploying different swipe variations and can set up different moves with his pass rush plan. There's going to be an adjustment period here as he transitions to a new position, but his pass-rushing chops should be enough to get him on the field, even as a rookie. The film alone makes this a risk worth taking at this point in the draft.
*TRADE with Las Angeles Rams* Round 5, Pick 167: CB Kei'Trel Clark (Louisville)
I usually stray away from trades in these mocks because of how impossible they are to predict, but I'm calling my shot here. I think that there is a very real possibility that Kevin Dotson is traded during the NFL Draft. Pittsburgh has signed two capable guards, drafted another in this mock and I just have a general feeling that they are ready to get off of this rollercoaster of flashes but inconsistent play. Why the Rams? They have eight (seriously!) day-three picks and couldn't keep Matt Stafford clean last season and might be willing to take a risk on a cost-controlled guard with starting experience in exchange for this pick.
We saw less and less of Arthur Maulet on passing downs as the season wore on last season but with Cam Sutton's departure, the Steelers don't have an obvious compliment in the slot. That's where Clark's fit comes in. For my money, Clark was one of, if not the best player at the East-West Shrine event in Las Vegas and was consistently putting himself into position to make plays on the football. He's got plenty of prior experience playing on the boundary before making the transition into the slot before the 2022 season. This is right around the point where the draft pool starts to dip off quite a bit, but I'm not sure the Steelers want to wait 100+ selections in between picks. Call it a gut feeling.
Round 7, Pick 241: TE Blake Whiteheart (Wake Forest)
If you watched Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan's pre-draft press conference, you heard the nugget about the tight end depth being notably present in this year's class. Pittsburgh brought back Zach Gentry on a cheap deal, but that won't preclude them from adding to the position on draft weekend. Whiteheart met formally with the Steelers at the NFL combine, but there isn't much public interest beyond that. It took him a bit to break out, but he had the best year of his collegiate career as a senior, notching 295 yards and three touchdowns.
If you can stomach sitting through the painful to watch slow-mesh Wake Forest offense, you'll notice that he's a highly competitive in-line blocker despite being a little undersized for NFL standards. He also showcases impressive hands on his limited opportunities, dropping only two passes throughout his time in college. He's an above-average athlete who ran a 4.7 40-yard dash to pair with a 35.5. inch vertical leap. Whiteheart is an intriguing dart throw at this point in the draft.
Round 7, Pick 251: QB Jaren Hall (BYU)
You guys knew it was coming. Yes, I fully believe that the Steelers will take a quarterback in the seventh round of the draft, just like they did last year when they selected Chris Oladokun. With this year's draft class being more shallow with less depth, and seeing as there is no true No.3 quarterback currently on the roster, I can actually understand the thought process here. Hall was one of the Steelers' top 30 visits after they were able to see him up close and personal at the Senior Bowl earlier in the process.
Let's be honest, Hall didn't have his best week at the Senior Bowl, but he's been a highly productive starter since taking over for Zach Wilson at BYU. Hall plays with good timing and displays good anticipation on film, particularly when working toward the sideline. He throws a pretty deep ball with nice touch, consistently allowing his receivers to run underneath them without losing momentum. At 25 years old, Hall's a career backup but someone that has a good chance to stick around the league for a little while. There's value in that, and Pittsburgh will likely burn a pick here instead of fighting for him on the open undrafted free agent market.
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