FanPost

Dinner's Mock Draft

Hello my fellow Yinzers,

Unfortunately, I will be busy during the NFL draft, so I will miss the chance to interact with you all during the football festivities. Therefore, I want to post a mock now to share my thoughts. The way this works is that I will post who I think we should draft, give a quick reasoning as to why I chose said player, then at the bottom will post who I think the Steelers will draft. I will only use players they have shown interest in for those predictions.

(I should also mention I have watched 0 tape this year. Focus more on the positions rather than players.)

Round 1 Pick 20: Lloyd (ILB) Utah

Willis goes off the board in the top 9, while Pickett & Corral go in the early teens preventing the Steelers from trading up. A run on DL, DB, OT, and WR puts the team in a tricky situation. However, there is a stud linebacker waiting for them at 20, and we know they like their first round ILBs.

Lloyd is an excellent communicator and is a menace in the trenches. Insurance here is crucial since ILB might be the weakest spot on defense. Bush looks like he will be off the team after this year, while Jack is only here on a 2 year deal. Depth has been proven as bad. Lloyd gives us insurance for Bush or a starter post Jack, and is BPA at this point in the draft.

(Steelers predicted pick: Howell [QB] NC)

It's obvious PIT HQ wants a QB. They've been studying them non stop. Howell has connections to Colbert and has some buzz around his name. I'm not a fan of QB here and think this is a massive overdraft, but we've seen the Steelers multiple times reach for players they like.

Round 2 pick 56: Logan Hall (DE) Houston

The DL needs a complete overhaul in 2023. I think Adams showed enough to where he could be a starting NT, and honestly it's not that hard to find a run stuffing NT in the NFL. DE on the other hand is much more of a challenge, and with Tuitt most likely no longer being a Steeler past 2022 we're going to need to bring some competition in besides Milk and Wormley. Hall is a 3-4 end who should be available at this spot due to the run on DLs in the first round, giving us some stability in 2023.

(Steelers predicted pick: Elam [CB] FL)

Tall, fast, raw CBs are what the Steelers love to draft, and he fits that to a T. This team has a lot of CB2s but no elite presence on it. Elam could give us that star presence we will miss now that Haden is gone. (I think it's possible to flip the Howell pick and this one.)

Round 3 pick 84: Tolbert (WR) S AL

The Steelers have been missing a deep passing game since 2019, where they refused to throw long. Now that they are looking at QBs I think they should be looking for a guy who can add a deep threat to the offense. Especially with Johnson pricing himself out of PIT and Claypool's recent struggles. Tolbert averaged 19 yards per catch and can give us the splash plays we've so desperately missed the past 3 years.

(Steelers predicted pick: Moore [WR] W MI)

DJ and Claypool will be our outside guys next season, but we have no slot WR on the team. Moore is a shifty slot guy, and someone who I think would be perfect for the Steeler's offense.

Round 4 pick 138: Mitchell (OT) LA

The FO is going all in on Moore & Okorafor being the starting tackles, and I think that is a bold risk. Especially considering we have no swing tackle or depth if they fail. Mitchell gives us insurance at a key position.

(Steelers predicted pick: Brookes [ILB] Penn St.)

They showed a lot of interest in him at the Penn State pro day and I don't think he lasts until round 6. Probably an over draft here by 1 round but fills a position of need.

Round 6 pick 208: Pola-Moa (S) USC

With the main 4 needs of DL, WR, OT and ILB secured, the Steelers take a flyer on the relative of #43! Edmunds only signed for 1 year and we may end up moving on after 2022. If he's half as good as his predecessor the Steelers will have the best safety duo in the league.

(Steelers predicted pick: Cunningham [OT] AR)

Round 7 pick 225: Ebner (RB) Baylor

Our running back room behind Harris has much to be desired. Ebner has the floor of a ST gunner and the ceiling of a backup RB. His 5'11", 216lb frame is on the larger side of RBs which fits the Steeler mold, but he also has speed to him which can give contrast to Harris.

(Steelers predicted pick: Bolden [S] Miami)

Round 7 pick 225: Ezukanma (WR) Texas Tech

Doubling down on WR here to give us a 6th man. If Claypool can't get it together and Johnson either leaves in FA or struggles, this will be a position we need to tear down and rebuild. Especially if/when we target a QB in the 2023 draft.

(Steelers predicted pick: Heyward [FB] MI St.)

I don't think I have to explain this one ;)

---------------------

Let me know what ya'll think.

The opinions shared here are not those of the editorial staff of Behind the Steel Curtain or SB Nation. These posts are not approved in any way by the editorial staff of this web site.