2018 NFL Draft: Mike Mayock’s first set of rankings gives Steelers plenty of options

The Pittsburgh Steelers are narrowing down their team needs, and Mike Mayock’s first set of rankings give the team some needed options early in the draft process.

By Jeff.Hartman@BnGBlitz Feb 17, 2018, 10:35am EST

The Pittsburgh Steelers have entered the official 2018 NFL Draft season, and narrowing down the team’s needs are priority No. 1. Most would say inside linebacker and safety top the list, with plenty of other positional needs following in some shape, or form.

At the NFL Network, NFL Draft analyst Mike Mayock puts out positional rankings several times leading up to the selection process, and his 1.0 rankings were just released. For the Steelers, who select 28th overall in the first round, they will likely have their options with some top prospects at key positions.

Below are some of Mayock’s rankings, listed by either High Priority Positions (ILB, S, etc.) or Other Positions of Need (OL, RB, etc.) Check out his rankings, and see if you agree, or disagree. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section!

High Priority Positions

Linebacker

1. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech

2. Roquan Smith, Georgia

3. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State

4. Rashaan Evans, Alabama

5. Uchenna Nwosu, USC

Safety

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama

2. Derwin James, Florida State

3. Ronnie Harrison, Alabama

4. Jessie Bates III, Wake Forest

5. Justin Reid, Stanford

Interior DL

1. Vita Vea, Washington

2. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama

3. Maurice Hurst, Michigan

4. Taven Bryan, Florida

5. Harrison Phillips, Stanford

Wide receiver

1. Calvin Ridley, Alabama

2. Christian Kirk, Texas A&M

3. Courtland Sutton, SMU

4. James Washington, Oklahoma State

T-5. Dante Pettis, Washington

T-5. DJ Moore, Maryland

T-5. Anthony Miller, Memphis

Other Positions of Need

Edge rusher

1. Bradley Chubb, N.C. State

2. Marcus Davenport, UTSA

3. Arden Key, LSU

4. Harold Landry, Boston College

5. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State

Interior OL

1. Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame

2. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia

3. James Daniels, Iowa

4. Will Hernandez, UTEP

5. Billy Price, Ohio State

Tight end

1. Hayden Hurst, South Carolina

2. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State

3. Mike Gesicki, Penn State

4. Mark Andrews, Oklahoma

5. Will Dissly, Washington, Tight end

Running Back

1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State

2. Derrius Guice, LSU

3. Ronald Jones II, USC

4. Sony Michel, Georgia

5. Nick Chubb, Georgia