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The 2020 NFL Draft is a lot closer than many may believe, and as the NFL world turns their focus away from Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, home of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, and now turns to individual Pro Day workouts, fans’ attention typically begins the process of trying to predict who their favorite team will select.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have 6 total draft picks throughout the three day, 7 round process. Their picks are as follows:
Round 2, selection 49
Round 3, selection 102 (compensatory)
Round 4, selection 124
Round 4, selection 135 (from Miami, from Tennessee)
Round 6, selection 198
Round 7, selection 232
Most websites simply consist of showing who they think the team will take in the first round, and maybe a two round mock draft, but there are a few rare media personalities who will take a stab at a full 7-round prediction.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo is one of those rogue journalists, and put out his latest full mock draft of the year. At this point these predictions are just stabs in the dark. Great for conversation and debate, but that is about it. As the team continues to attend Pro Days, and host pre-draft visits, then you will start to see the focus narrow on these type of prediction articles.
For the record, Fittipaldo goes into great detail on all of his selections, you can read them all HERE, but out of respect to the work he did I will show his explanation of just his first round pick.
At this point, check out the full mock draft below, and feel free to let us know what you think of the haul in the comment section below.
Round 1: No Pick
Round 2: WR Jalen Reagor, TCU (5-feet-11, 206 pounds)
The Steelers need a fast receiver, one that is capable of making plays deep down the field as well as the gadget-type plays that new assistant Matt Canada is expected to infuse into the offense. Meet Reagor, who ran a 4.47 at the combine and produced like a big-time receiver when he had a good quarterback at TCU. There are some questions about his consistency. How much of his drop in production had to do with poor quarterback play? And how much had to do with his own play? But the Steelers could be getting an impact player in the middle of the second round if Reagor is still on the board. It would be the fourth consecutive year the Steelers selected a receiver with a pick in the second or third round, but with Smith-Schuster entering the final year of his contract, it’s not a bad idea to add some quality depth at the position. Reagor entered the draft after his junior year and just turned 21 in January, fitting the profile the Steelers like to have with draftees in the early rounds.
Round 3: OLB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama (6-2, 256)
The Steelers likely will place the franchise tag on Bud Dupree, but they need to develop someone to take his place in 2021. Jennings is more in the mold of Jason Worilds than Dupree, but he is a player the Steelers could mold as a future starter. He’s coming off a first-team all-SEC season when he recorded eight sacks in 13 starts. Jennings won’t wow with his athleticism, and he doesn’t possess elite pass-rushing skills. But he is strong against the run and has the technique to be an effective player in the Steelers’ scheme.
Round 4: OG Netane Muti, Fresno State (6-3, 315)
Round 4: S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois (6-3, 219)
Round 5: No Pick
Round 6: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati (6-3, 245)
Round 7: DL John Penisini, Utah (6-2, 333)