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Don't tell Draft Season's Lupagus the Steelers don't need to draft a tackle in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
In his post-Super Bowl mock, he has the Steelers addressing the position, and by product, addressing a "curse."
Another year, another offensive tackle being mocked to the Steelers. They still haven’t solved their offensive line woes, and almost seemed cursed. Lewan gives them a top shelf left tackle prospect who should be able to keep defenders off of Big Ben.
Those offensive line woes include a dozen sacks over the team's final eight games, one of the lowest totals in the league, while averaging just north of 28 points a game - a very solid number.
Not coincidentally, the Steelers also had a run of stability among their offensive line during that stretch of time. There's something to be said about a healthy line playing the same players consistently to protect an outstanding quarterback who's delivering the ball on time.
Maybe Michigan's Lewan can help boost that production even more, but it seems there are much better players available in this mock - Ra'Shede Hageman, for example. It says it was updated Feb. 3, but it seems like this pick was made in December...of last year.
We kid, though. Draft Season is a friend of BTSC's - neighbors in the Twin Cities, in fact. While we think Lewan would at least begin his career at right tackle, with any potential shift to left tackle coming down the line, the Steelers have other needs to fill. Other options, too.
Just watch the speed of Seattle's Super Bowl championship defense and ask whether it's more valuable to have top shelf defenders or tweener tackle prospects.
