Like Thanos himself, Mock Draft Season is inevitable. Whether you like them or not really doesn’t matter because most of us just can’t help ourselves but to look. As I always do, I approach my mock drafts for the Pittsburgh Steelers with one approach in mind. I select based on what I believe the Steelers will do, not what I would do. Keep in mind also that free agency isn’t here yet and what the Steelers do there will have a major impact on the draft and mock draft process. Let’s get to it!
Round One – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
The Steelers have seen their offensive line improve throughout the season for the last two years but they need it to be good when the season opens. Guyton is another monster that can plug in right away despite lacking much in the way of starting experience. He originally signed with TCU as a defensive tackle before making the transition to offense. Despite his inexperience, he’s extremely athletic and has the type of nastiness you want in an offensive lineman. He pulls really well and also has the strength to anchor at the center of attack.
Round Two – Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
This is a lazy pick right? I mean, this guy has been mocked to the Steelers for a year now simply because he grew up 90 miles south of Acrisure Stadium. But… this guy is the real deal. A four-time state champion wrestler who hopped off the field on one leg after breaking the other so his team didn’t have to burn a timeout is EXACTLY the toughness I’m looking for on this O-Line… Really good footwork and gets to the second level quickly… Balance is excellent – a direct result of his wrestling background… I’m not sure how effective he is on the move… Put him in a phone booth however and he’s not going to be beaten… Needs to keep his eyes up too.
Round Three – Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Melton sees things in front of him really well… Solid job of recognizing routes… Overall good footwork and really good athleticism… Ball skills are enticing and quite solid… He’s an incredibly willing tackler but must improve in this area too… Really good man-cover guy who has also excelled in zone coverage… At 5’11” 195lbs he might be a tad undersized but his overall ability and upside are hard to ignore.
Round Four – Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Played final two seasons at Florida after coming over from Arizona State. Not a burner by any means but runs great routes and creates separation… He has great hands and seems to have more ‘football speed’ than actual speed… He will need to work on getting off the line when pressed and needs to clean up his blocking too… He seems like a perfect slot guy for the Steelers especially with his hands and route running.
Round Four (LAR) – Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
6’1″ 300lbs… highly athletic for a man of his size… 30 reps at 225lbs so Davis is strong too… Strong tackler and he brings physicality to his game… Will need to work on the technical side of his game in terms of hand usage and placement… Has more than adequate burst at the snap and has demonstrated the ability to rush the passer at times too… With the D-Line needing depth, Davis would be a tremendous sidekick to Keeanu Benton.
Round Six – Sione Vaki, S, Utah
Here’s a guy that saw time not just at defensive back but also running back during his career for the Utes. Vaki has really good straight line speed and he excels in zone coverage. He plays with toughness and physicality and will likely be a really good Special Teams player. His ability to cover in man-to-man situations is limited so he would likely fit a lot of what the Steelers do in zone… Seems athletic enough to be in some man-to-man situations with the right coaching.
Round Seven – Isaac Rex, TE, BYU
At 6’5″ 250lbs, Rex is a big man and a great athlete. He was once the national high school high jump champion. With both Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth already in place, there’s no reason to rush Rex into action. He’s very lanky but looks as though he could actually tack on more weight. The blocking effort is there but will need work. New Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith loves tight ends so this seems like a potential fit.
