We're now a week out from the start of the NFL Draft and things are becoming very clear for most teams.
The Steelers?
They're, as usual, keeping their cards close to their vest. But their needs are obvious. They need offensive playmakers and depth pieces on defense at safety, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and nose tackle. They also could use another developmental offensive lineman or two.
What they don't need is another quarterback. That's why you haven't -- and won't -- see a quarterback showing up on any mock drafts on this site. It's just not happening.
But if the Steelers landed the players taken in this mock, they'd be extremely happy, filling a number of their needs while also adding immediate impact players with their top two selections.
With only six picks in the draft, they can't fill all their needs. But the post-draft free agent market can take care of that.
One week out, here's who I've got the Steelers landing:
Round 2, pick 49 -- Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU (previous pick, Michael Pittman, WR, USC): A first-round talent falls to the second round because of the glut of top-level receivers in this draft. I guarantee the Steelers have a high grade on Reagor, who looks like a souped up version of a cross between James Washington and Diontae Johnson.
WR @jalenreagor will go up and TAKE IT. ? @TCUFootball
?: 2020 @NFLDraft, April 23-25 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/HMHY2xCr2V
— NFL (@NFL) April 10, 2020
I passed on some very good running backs -- and even a couple of solid players at other positions, such as safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Grant Delpit -- to make this pick. But I would run to the commissioner's house myself to make this one. The son of former NFL defensive tackle Montae Reagor is a ridiculous athlete. He had the nation's best long jump -- 26 feet -- as a high school senior, but didn't have great production in his final year in college, mostly because TCU's quarterback play was so spotty.
Round 3, pick 102 -- Cam Akers, RB, Florida State (previous pick, Akers): Yes, this is the same pick from last week, but Akers fell to me both times. Who am I to pass on a great bargain? He's the fifth of my five running backs in this draft I feel have the talent to be future every-down starters and still available as a compensatory pick in Round 3, the same spot the Steelers grabbed James Conner in 2017. This time, however, I wasn't tempted to trade up as several of the backs fell into the third round, with J.K. Dobbins being the only one selected before my second round pick.
Round 4, pick 124 -- Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming (previous pick, Keith Ismael, G-C, San Diego State): In four seasons at Wyoming, Wilson started 52 games, recording 421 tackles. And he seldom misses when he gets a ball carrier in his sights. Wilson is more of a throwback inside linebacker, but he has good coverage ability for a 240-pound linebacker. He had 24 passes defended and 10 interceptions in his career, as well. He would be a nice piece to add to the lineup next to Devin Bush down the road while he serves as a special teams ace in the meantime.
Round 4, pick 135 -- K'Von Wallace, S, Clemson (previous pick, Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State): Wallace played both cornerback and safety at Clemson and has the coverage skills to be a solid No. 3 safety. He played both deep middle and down at the line of scrimmage at Clemson, so his versatility is just what the Steelers need at that position. With the addition of Wallace and Wilson in the fourth round, the Steelers address two of their big depth needs.
Round 6, pick 198 -- Colton McKivitz, OL, West Virginia (previous pick, Willie Gay, LB, Mississippi State): The Steelers need to keep adding developmental offensive linemen to the mix and McKivitz gives them another who could play tackle or guard. He started his first three seasons at right tackle, moving to left tackle in 2019. While McKivitz probably doesn't have the athletic ability to play left tackle in the NFL, he most certainly can be a swing guy on game days — if not immediately, then down the road. If he develops into more than that, great.
Round 7, pick 232 -- Javaris Davis, CB, Auburn (previous pick, Derek Tuszka, LB, North Dakota State): With both Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2020 season, the Steelers are unlikely to re-sign both. They could use another slot corner-type player. Davis is undersized at 5-foot-8 and 183 pounds, but he's feisty and aggressive. He's also very fast. His size pushes him into the seventh round, but that's OK. He's a nice pickup in the seventh round as a potential starting nickel corner in the future.
