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The Pittsburgh Steelers are putting the final touches on their Big Boards for the 2016 NFL Draft, and while they prepare NFL Draft 'experts' prepare for the big day next Thursday. With many websites releasing their final mock drafts before the selection process begins, fans are clamoring to get their hands on anything even remotely close to a hint as to what their favorite team will be doing on draft day.
As for ESPN draft expert Todd McShay, like so many of his colleagues, he released his latest mock draft with less than a week until draft day. There were a lot of changes in this mock draft, considering the trades made between the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams, as well as the most recent trade between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns.
These changes alter mock drafts, as well as positional needs for the teams participating in the trades, but what does it do for a team like the Steelers in the back half of the draft order? According to McShay, not much at all. McShay still has the team targeting a cornerback in the first round, and the selection shouldn't be met with much disdain from fans of the black and gold.
See who McShay has slotted to be wearing black and gold in 2016:
25. Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Jackson is coming off a highly productive senior campaign in which he led the FBS with 28 pass breakups, and had five interceptions. He has a good frame (6-0, 189 pounds) and elite speed (4.37 40), along with the work ethic to develop into a steady corner at the next level.
The Steelers could use a player like Jackson in their defensive backfield. Even if he is raw and has the tendency to make the occasional rookie mistake, his upside would already be an improvement over what the team put on the field in both 2014 and 2015.
Along with potential, if the Steelers grabbing Jackson in the first round would round out a decent stable of defensive backs heading into 2016. Jackson would join William Gay, Ross Cockrell, Senquez Golson and Doran Grant as the primary defensive secondary heading into Latrobe, PA and training camp. The Steelers would like to add another cornerback later in the draft, but getting a player like Jackson in the first would go a long way to helping improve the 30th ranked pass defense in the NFL.