:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59264481/usa_today_10685015.0.jpg)
Let me start by suggesting how difficult it is to even try to predict what will happen during an NFL Draft. In fact, no one knows what is going to happen — not even the front office brass participating in the annual selection process.
Nonetheless, we all love to do our best to try and predict the future, and with the 2018 NFL Draft quickly approaching the ESPN duo of draft analysts, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., released their 2-round mock draft where they both predict all team’s picks for the first two rounds.
Take a look at who each has predicted to the Steelers for Rounds 1 and 2:
Kiper
Round 1:
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Pittsburgh has JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant (and Antonio Brown, of course), but Bryant is a free agent in 2019. This position isn’t set long term, and teams need multiple pass-catchers. The Steelers could also look closely at a linebacker.
Round 2:
Uchenna Nwosu, OLB, USC
I mentioned linebacker as a need for the Steelers, and Nwosu was nearly unblockable down the stretch of the season for the Trojans. The edge rusher had eight sacks in his final six games.
McShay
Round 1:
Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Pittsburgh could use help in the secondary. Hughes might slip because he ran just a decent 40 time in Indy, but he’s a ballhawk with good man-to-man cover skills.
Round 2:
Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
Gesicki crushed his combine workout and would give Pittsburgh another versatile option in an extremely talented offense.
...
Talk about a mixed bag of goods for the black-and-gold. Kiper going WR then OLB, and McShay going CB and TE.
While most fans will laugh at the team not drafting an ILB or S in the first two rounds, the Steelers have proven on more than one occasion they will do what they feel is best for the team, and that is consistently drafting the Best Player Available (BPA). Some may not like this draft strategy, but it has proven to be effective for the Steelers in the Colbert/Tomlin era.
What do you think of the selections by McShay and Kiper? Do you agree with their approach, or laugh this off as nothing but garbage? Let us know in the comment section below!