2021 Steelers NFL Draft Scenario 4.0: The Steelers take a dynamic defender in Round 1

With the 2021 NFL Draft just days away, it is time to start doing what all NFL teams are doing at this time in their draft prep. Teams are going through an endless amount of scenarios trying to decipher what they will do if the draft falls a certain way.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have any number of directions they could go in the upcoming selection process, so it is time to start running the scenarios leading up to the big event!

Check out previous scenarios below:

For clarification, as well as consistency, I am using FanSpeak’s mock draft simulator. It also should be noted there are never any fictitious trades in these scenarios.

1: R1P1 QB Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars

2: R1P2 QB Zach Wilson - New York Jets

3: R1P3 QB Justin Fields - San Francisco 49ers

4: R1P4 OT Rashawn Slater - Atlanta Falcons

5: R1P5 WR Ja’Marr Chase - Cincinnati Bengals

6: R1P6 WR DeVonta Smith - Miami Dolphins

7: R1P7 OT Penei Sewell - Detroit Lions

8: R1P8 WR Jaylen Waddle - Carolina Panthers

9: R1P9 CB Caleb Farley - Denver Broncos

10: R1P10 EDGE Azeez Ojulari - Dallas Cowboys

11: R1P11 EDGE Kwity Paye - New York Giants

12: R1P12 CB Jaycee Horn - Philadelphia Eagles

13: R1P13 LB Micah Parsons - LA Chargers

14: R1P14 TE Kyle Pitts - Minnesota Vikings

15: R1P15 WR Kadarius Toney - New England Patriots

16: R1P16 G Alijah Vera-Tucker - Arizona Cardinals

17: R1P17 DL Christian Barmore - Las Vegas Raiders

18: R1P18 OT Alex Leatherwood - Miami Dolphins

19: R1P19 OT Christian Darrisaw - Washington Football Team

20: R1P20 QB Trey Lance - Chicago Bears

21: R1P21 OT Teven Jenkins - Indianapolis Colts

22: R1P22 CB Asante Samuel Jr. - Tennessee Titans

23: R1P23 CB Greg Newsome - New York Jets

---

This fourth scenario is a situation where the Steelers have options at No. 24. Zaven Collins of Tulsa is available, and so are all three of the big name running backs. However, there are those Steelers fans who believe strongly in narratives surrounding the draft process. One of the most talked about narratives are whether or not the Steelers have Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert at a specific Pro Day workout.

In this case, neither were at Tulsa to watch Collins, but both were at Notre Dame to watch the Fighting Irish’s workout. Not that I believe the Steelers wouldn’t take a player based on whether Tomlin and Colbert were at the Pro Day, but the history speaks for itself.

With that said, the Steelers’ decide to take Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK).

As you can see, several key players many black and gold fans want the team to draft are off the board. The run on offensive tackles has players like Teven Jenkins and Christian Darrisaw gone, several cornerbacks have also been selected, but there was plenty of talent to choose from at No. 24.

Trying to put myself in Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin’s position, I wanted to truly adopt the Best Player Available (BPA) approach.

I believe JOK can be a Swiss Army Knife of sorts for the Steelers in his rookie year. Not only playing the inside linebacker role, but also rushing the passer from time to time. JOK’s college tape shows a playmaker in the truest sense of the word, and him being injected into the lineup will only make an already good defense even better.

With JOK as the first round pick, the Steelers would likely approach the offensive side of the ball on Day 2 of the draft, mainly looking at center, offensive tackle and running back.

This is just the one of many NFL Draft scenarios I’ll be doing, every time finding a new prospect/approach which could dictate who the Steelers might select in the first found of the 2021 NFL Draft.

What do you think of the pick, given who was still available when it was the Steelers’ pick? Let us know in the comment section, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.