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This this week's edition of Mock Draft Monday, the folks at WalterFootball.com have produced yet another mock draft which has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting a glaring position of need entering the 2015 NFL Draft - cornerback. This mock has them selecting LSU cornerback Jalen Collins with their first pick at the No. 22 position.
Collins recently dined with Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin, which obviously shows a sign the team is interested in his services, but will Collins be able to play at the NFL level from Day 1? Take a look at what WalterFootball.com has to say about the selection:
The Steelers could miss out on the top edge rushers, so instead could target their next biggest need: pass coverage. Clearly, Pittsburgh needs to improve its cornerbacks. Collins fits with other corners the Steelers have drafted under Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin.
Collins totaled 38 tackles, nine passes broken up and an interception in 2014. The 6-foot-1, 203-pounder is a long corner who has some athleticism and is fast. While Collins doesn't always play up to his skill set, he showed his surprising speed when he chased down Melvin Gordon on a long run in the 2014 season opener. Big cornerbacks who can run like Collins are tough to find. However, he needs development in playing the ball and improving his ball skills.
Collins was a 2012 Freshman All-SEC selection by the conference's coaches. He totaled 30 tackles and two interceptions. As a sophomore, Collins started two games. He had 22 tackles with two passes broken up in 2013.
Collins possesses the skill set to become a good starter. LSU has been a factory for elite defensive backs, so he had to earn his playing time.
Collins certainly is someone for fans to keep their eye on. After all, if the Steelers can't draft a top-tier pass rusher, cornerback is next on the team's list in terms of needs. Collins would be stepping into a secondary which is anything but certain, and would have plenty of opportunities to compete for playing time in training camp and beyond with the only cornerbacks currently on the team's roster being William Gay, Cortez Allen, Antwon Blake and B.W. Webb.