Im sick of reading Browns fans crap - Here is a Steelers mock draft

Dontari Poe won’t last until the 3rd round. If the Steelers want him, they might have to get him in the first. Glenn might or might not slip to the 2nd round. I don’t know if Hightower is a 3-down back. With passing offenses controlling today’s NFL, you don’t want to spend a high pick on a 2-down LB that can’t cover, particularly when you are in a division with Ray Rice and those two pass-receiving tight ends, Pitta and Dickson.

The Steelers lost Spaeth, N. Eason and Keyaron Fox in free agency and only signed J. Cotchery. I’m thinking that should get the team at least an extra 6th round pick. With that being said, here’s my mock:

1 – G/T Barrett Jones, Alabama
2 – NT Josh Chapman, Alabama
3 – FS Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
4 – ILB Audie Cole, N.C. State
5 – CB Asa Jackson, Cal Poly
6 – DE/DT Matt Conroth, UVa.
6 – DE/OLB Jacquies Smith, Missouri
7 – K Philip Welch, Wisconsin

Assuming you predictions about retirement are correct how about this as an option.
Rd 1. Dwight Jones WR North Caroloina – What you say? No chance a WR in round 1. Well lets examine things for a minute. Ward retires leaving Wallace, Brown, Sanders (injury prone) and Cotchery on the roster. I believe Cotchery views himself as at least a #3 and probably a #2 WR which he will never be in Pittsburgh so I don’t think he is going to resign with the Steelers. Jones is a 6’4" 215# WR that runs a 4.55 (Blackmon runs a 4.48 @ 6’1’ 208#) He can be a big red zone target and open the underneath with Wallace for slants, hooks, and curles to Brown and Sanders as well as allowing free space for Miller and Saunders. Plus right now he is projected as a late 1 early 2 pick so that fits. Something to think about.
Rd 2. OG – Either Cordy Glenn OG Georgia or Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State. Both have position flexibility to play OG or OT but are better suited to OG. Both are large road graders which we like and both are projected Round 2 picks. Couple that with the number of OG available and I believe one of them will be available at the end of the 2nd round.
Rd 3. Kheeston Russell DE Texas. Another surprise. But maybe not so much. Recently Hood has been playing inside on passing downs meaning we run 3 DE (similar to NY Giants a few years back). If this is the direction we are moving then another 3-4 DE is a need, especially with Smith highly questionable at best next year. Plus BK isn’t getting any younger so we need to start developing a 3rd DE for the rotation.
Rd 4. This could go one of 2 ways. If the Steelers are looking to replace both starting OG next year then this pick is either Rakevious Watkins OG South Carolina or Brandon Washington OG Miami. However I don’t think the braintrusts would want to turn over 40% of the line in one year so the pick here is Neiko Thorpe FS Auburn. He is the eventual replacement for Ryan Clark and the best thing is he is a converted CB so he has coverage skills to utilize against the TE other teams are employing against the Steelers.
Rd. 5 James-Michael Johnson ILB Nevada. I had been on the Korey Williams bandwagon but he tore an ACL and is hoping to be ready for the combine. If he can go by then I would pick him over Johnson as he has proven to be, in my estimation, the better player. If he isn’t ready then Johnson is the pick to back up Foote and Timmons for a couple years then step in as the starter.
Rd. 6 TJ Barnes NT Georgia Tech. Don’t think Ta’amu will be available late in round 1 for us to pick and Poe will be gone before round 3. Nobody else I see out there is worth picking over the players I have posted. Plus as mentioned above our NT seems to be devolving into a 2 down run stuffer so I don’t see a high draft pick being utilized on NT at this time. This may change however as the current Hood at NT on passing downs may just be due to a deteriation on Hamptons skills. Not sure but right now this is the pick.
Rd 7. Antoine McClain OG Clemson. He is projected anywhere from round 5-7. I feel with the number of quality OG in this draft he will fall to the end of the draft and be available come round 7. He is more a developmental project who could add depth down the road but not sure he is starter material, but you never know and this is the 7th round.

I’d get rid of Chris Kemoeatu and replace him with David DeCastro, G, Stanford. If he fell a little in the draft I would trade up to get him cause good lord we need some help…. Our OL is truly pathetic. It is amazing we have won so much these last few years with this group! With DeCastro playing LG his feet are quick enough for him to pull, and he is a mauler in the ground game. Along with Pouncey, we would have 2 quality interior lineman for years to come.

Also, I do not think Hightower would be there at 32.

At the end of the 2nd round, I would look at Alameda Ta’amu, NT, Washington. He is a run stuffer supreme, requires double teams and is a perfect replacement for Casey. With Hoke going on the IR and his future in doubt, we could use another big body up there anyway. I like him (for our scheme) more than Poe.

jharmon64,

First, you got to smile at mock drafts in december…. citing them is funny too!

Whether they have Poe as our 1st pick or not, that is fluid and will change frequently up until draft day.

My feeling are, DeCastro (if we can get him, trade up, he slips, et al.) is a much better choice for us in the 1st.

1 – I like the Hightower pick. Folks have pointed out that you can’t ever replace Troy so when he goes the slack will need to get picked up by playmakers at multiple positions.
2 – Haven’t studied the guy but like the pick.
3 – Not entirely sold on Poe. Seems like he might not have the agility to be a 2 gap defender. Only 3 sacks in 2 years versus C-USA competition seems a little poor. at 6-5 he’s taller than a NT would typically be in the 3-4. I think the way the team is using McLendon, we might not see a Hampton-type guy as the NT but someone who’s a little more like Jay Ratlff and can generate more pass rush. Devon Still of PSU might be that kind of guy, better motor, good production at a high level, same height, 40 pounds lighter.