A “much less crazier” Mock Draft V1
I’ve had a bit of fun with my Mock Draft Insanity articles, but the draft is getting closer day to day, and I thought – why not give it some serious consideration? (And by serious, I don’t mean Joe Kuzma’s April Fools’ Day Mock Draft where the Steelers picked several quarterbacks!)
So with that in mind – here is my official Mock Draft V1 for the Steelers. To make up for the lack of insanity, I’m doing all 7 rounds this time!
Round 1
Sidney Jones – CB, Washington
If you haven’t heard, Sidney Jones was considered a top 10 prospect. He was considered either the best or second-best cornerback (to Marshon Lattimore).
Unfortunately for him (but perhaps fortunately for the Steelers) he ruptured his Achilles tendon at his day. Terry Fletcher had a nice write up on why that injury shouldn’t deter the Steelers from taking Sidney Jones if he were to drop.
Since the injury, Jones has reportedly had a successful surgery and continues to claim he will play in the 2017 season. The thing is, it’s not unheard of for a player to return after this type of injury. Terrell Suggs was down only five months, and Cameron Wake was able to return after a much shorter recovery period than originally anticipated after suffering the same fate.
Pick number 30 still may be too high for Jones: the truth is the Steelers need contributors right now. But his talent is such that I think he still has to be considered. I like him enough to take the chance.
Also Considered: Carl Lawson, T.J. Watt, Caleb Brantley, Evan Engram
Round 2
Derek Rivers – Edge, Youngstown State
Taking a CB in the first round meant I had to focus on OLB/Edge players in the second.
I’ve said all along that by the time the Steelers draft in the second, most of the top-tier prospects will be gone. In this instance, I’m banking on one of the guys I think is in the “Cream” to be here, and that guy is Derek Rivers.
Rivers stock has shot up since the combine. I even had to tweet out at one point that people needed to stop pushing his stock so high because I wanted him to be there for the Steelers to select. There is a chance, and a good one, that Rivers is off the board before the Steelers pick in the second. This is my “wishful thinking” pick because, in my gut, I think Rivers is gone before 62 rolls around.
If he’s there in the second, to me it’s a no-brainer of a pick. I like Carl Lawson’s pass rush a little better than I like Rivers’ but for overall gain and maximum upside, it’s “Take Me To The Rivers” all the way.
Also Considered: Obi Melifonwu, Demarcus Walker, Bucky Hodges, Chidobe Awuzie, Tarell Basham
Round 3
Fabian Moreau – CB, UCLA
Fabian Moreau has had a roller coaster ride. This guy is another “Terry Fletcher” special with an injury the Steelers have to decide on.
First, Moreau was dropping down draft boards because nobody was really sure how he had recovered from a Lisfranc injury. Then came the combine and he started shooting back up the boards, some people even saying he might go in the first round.
Then at his pro day, he tears a pectoral muscle. Suddenly his stock is plummeting again.
Moreau underwent surgery, which reportedly was successful, and he is now being projected to be ready for training camp. So, here he comes, back up the boards.
If his injury drops him into the third round, I would take him. If not, I might take Cameron Sutton because the Steelers do need a corner who can contribute next season. There is no questioning Moreau’s talent, it’s more his recent injury history that is of concern.
Also Considered: Joe Mixon, Amara Darboh, Kareem Hunt, Anthony Walker, Jake Butt, Cameron Sutton
D’onta Foreman – RB, Texas
This is probably another “wishful thinking” pick. I have done about a million mock scenarios over this draft season, and in some Foreman is around this late, and in others, he is long gone.
The Steelers are going to try and find a young running back to take over the backup duties from DeAngelo Williams, and Foreman would be a good fit. He needs work, and backing up Le’Veon will give him time to learn, but the upside is he is a dynamic runner, with great foot quickness and wiggle for a guy his size.
Another potential pick here might be Marlon Mack, since the Steelers did send some folks down to watch the South Florida pro day, and it’s unlikely they were there to watch Rodney Adams (WR).
Also Considered: Marlon Mack, Jake Butt, Kendell Beckwith, Vince Biegel, Ethan Pocic
Round 4
Dawuane Smoot – Edge, Illinois
The pickings are getting a little slim, and the Steelers have a habit of drafting an offensive lineman at some point during every draft, so it’s not at all unlikely that Ethan Pocic (who seems to drop into the late third or fourth rounds in every sim I do) could be the choice here. He is probably better value, but certainly not a need.
I put need above value here and went with the best remaining edge rusher on the board, Dawuane Smoot. He does provide some value at this point in the draft, and while I’ve said in the Draft Prep piece on edge that he is a player “we already got”, he provides depth at edge, which we need. I can see him potentially pushing Anthony Chickillo for a backup role.
Maybe.
Also Considered: Ethan Pocic, Damien Mama, Chris Godwin, Noah Brown, Josh Jones
Round 5
Jalen Robinette – WR, Air Force
At some point in the draft, you almost have to draft a wide receiver. There are just too many of them.
For the Steelers, they don’t need immediate contributions from a WR. With a lineup of Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Eli Rogers, Sammie Coates, Justin Hunter, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Cobi Hamilton and DeMarcus Ayers, there really isn’t any room for another WR, unless he’s going to take somebody else’s job.
Maybe that guy might be Robinette. He’s huge and extremely raw. There is no telling if he’s going to develop into a threat, or fizzle out – he’s boom or bust, but I love the numbers.
6’3”, 220 lbs, 32 3/8” arms and he ran a 4.62 40 at the combine. That’s flying for a guy his size.
There are some boards that consider Robinette a TE, but I’m going to take him and see what develops.
Also Considered: Kenny Golladay, Micheal Roberts, James Conner, Joe Mathis, Amba Etta-Tawo
Round 6
Marquel Lee – LB, Wake Forest
Lee is a powerful guy, but he’s not fast and doesn’t have the best instincts. He might make a name for himself on special teams, but at this point in the draft, I’m willing to take a stab at a guy with limited upside (because frankly, that’s mostly what’s left).
Also Considered: Keith Kelsey, Tashawn Bower, Brandan Langley, Jonnu Smith, Matt Milano
Round 7
Kenny Golladay – WR, Northern Illinois
I almost took Golladay in the fifth round but went with Robinette. He was still on the boards in the seventh, so why not add another tall fast wide receiver to the mix. He needs to learn to run routes better, but who better to teach him than Antonio Brown.
I looked for a safety here as well, but I just couldn’t find a prospect that I thought I wouldn’t be able to sign as a UFA.
Also Considered: John Law, Xavier Woods, Ezra Robinson, Tony Conner, Riley Bullough
Conclusion
I’ve been saying this all offseason, and I think it’s still true: no one knows what the thought process of the Pittsburgh Steelers is unless you are in the war room with them. The best we can do is guess.
That’s what this is, a guess.
It’s possible the Steelers don’t want to take a chance on Sidney Jones in the first because of the injury, and instead they may go with someone like Carl Lawson. It’s also possible that someone like Gareon Conley falls to them, and the only change is that it’s Conley instead of Jones.
I think it’s fair to say that in the top two picks (barring some kind of unheard of value falling to them) the Steelers will stay on the defensive side of the ball and take an OLB type and possibly a CB.
I would bet my signed Dan Rooney jersey that they take a RB at some point in the third round, or lower. Beyond that, it’s all a question of who the Steelers value, and what voids they think will make them most able to contend for a Lombardi come time for the kickoff of the 2017 season.
https://www.steelcityunderground.com/guides/steelers-war-room-inside-pittsburgh-steelers-plans-2017-nfl-draft/
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