Perfect Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
Round 1 - Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
The Steelers will have to make a splash at the quarterback position. Whether through free agency or the draft they need a Big Ben replacement. In this scenario we give them Sam Howell. It was a down year for the North Carolina QB but who can blame him considering his best weapons left for the NFL. What he did show was grit, something that won’t be lost on the Steelers. He has a strong arm and excellent mobility which should ease his transition into the league.
Round 2 - Ed Ingram, iOL, LSU
Offensive line was a clear weakness for the Steelers in 2021. That cannot be the case if they are to bed in a new quarterback. Trai Turner had injury issues and it’s doubtful that Pittsburgh would want to continue down that road by re-signing him for 2022. At 6’3, 315lbs LSU’s Ed Ingram would fit straight into the starting lineup. He was solid in the most competitive conference in college football and would stabilise a shaky group in Pittsburgh.
Mid Round Gem - Travis Jones, DT, UConn
Travis Jones is a beast of a nose tackle. The UConn product spent Senior Bowl week physically dominating opposing defensive lineman and his stock took a huge boost. The Steelers can expect Stephen Tuitt and Tyson Alualu back to form a defensive front with Cam Heyward but they shouldn’t be deterred from taking Jones. They need fresh faces and a long term plan at the spot. Jones can be a mountainous presence in the AFC North with the right development.
Late Round Sleeper - Big Kat Bryant, DE, UCF
Defensive line depth will also be a concern on the outside. TJ Watt had another elite season and Alex Highsmith has proven to be a solid draft pick. An addition like Bryant bulks the group out. Bryant flashed potential at Auburn but found consistency transferring to UCF this season. He doubled his previous season-best sack number by tallying 7 in 2021. He has the traits and production to be worth a late round flyer.
Draft In Full:
20. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
52. Ed Ingram, iOL, LSU
84. Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut
97. Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
177. Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
191. Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
224. Big Kat Bryant, DE, UCF
240. Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
