The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing to fill out their coaching staff, changing perceptions of their talent-acquisition plan. With plenty of time between now and the draft, mock drafts are ever-changing. Reminder: This is not what I expect the team to do, but one of many alternative routes that can be taken. Welcome to Steelers Mock Draft Monday 4.0!

Round 1: Jermod McCoy/CB/Tennessee

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: With concerns about who will be the starting corner opposite Joey Porter Jr., McCoy offers a high-risk, high-reward path to answering those questions. McCoy suffered a torn ACL in January 2024 that forced him to miss last year entirely. If his medicals check out and he returns to his 2024 form, the Steelers will get the steal of the first round with this selection.

He shows a great blend of length and fluidity, which contribute to his “sticky” coverage and help him excel in both man and zone coverage. In man, he is comfortable in press coverage, where he can use his length to disrupt the receiver’s path early. His ability to change direction without hitching and transition from a backpedal to a sprint allows him to mirror his matchup effectively. In zone coverage, he keeps his eyes on the quarterback and can instinctively recognize route combinations that let him peel off his zone responsibilities to make plays on the ball.

As a former high school receiver, he also has impressive ball skills. He doesn’t just go for the pass breakup. He actively tries to secure the turnover by boxing out his opponent and high-pointing the ball (4 INTs in 2024).

Pending his physicals, other aspects of his game need refinement. McCoy can be overly physical at the top of the route if he feels he is losing leverage, which can lead to penalties. He will also need to find more consistency in his tackling. He tends to dive at the ball carrier or lead with his shoulder, which can lead to more missed tackles.

Assuming McCoy’s medicals are clear and he returns to form, Pittsburgh will be fortunate to have two shutdown corners in its secondary.

Others Considered: Avieon Terrell/CB/Clemson, Kayden McDonald/IDL/Ohio State, Kenyon Sadiq/TE/Oregon, Denzel Boston/WR/Washington

Round 2: Dillon Thieneman/S/Oregon

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Given Jalen Ramsey’s age and DeShon Elliot’s injury, the Steelers continue to build their secondary in this draft. Thieneman is a high-motor, cerebral safety who has been very productive over his three-year career (306 tackles, 8 interceptions, 14 pass deflections). He thrives as a robber defender, keeping plays in front of him and jumping passing lanes. Though used as a single-high safety, he’s more effective in split-safety looks, controlling half the field.

Despite weighing only 205 pounds, Thieneman is an attacking run defender with an explosive trigger and the ability to get downhill. His tackling is versatile, showing he can “wrap-and-roll” against smaller matchups and cut at the knees against bigger players. There is a willingness to take on blockers in the run game, often unblockable against receivers, but he struggles against tight ends because of their weight.

He is more effective in zone coverage than in man, but he shows promise jamming receivers at the line to disrupt their rhythm. He lacks the hip fluidity to match up with receivers in the nickel position, so he opts for a more aggressive approach instead.

Adding a playmaker like Thieneman to a secondary that would have Joey Porter Jr. and Jermod McCoy would create headaches for opposing offenses trying to match up.

Others Considered: Germie Bernard/WR/Alabama, Chris Brazzell/WR/Tennessee, AJ Haulcy/S/LSU, Chase Bisontis/IOL/Texas A&M

Round 3: Ja’Kobi Lane/WR/USC

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: With the offense in need of talent on the outside, insert a 6’4 receiver with a great catch radius and an innate feel for body control and spatial awareness. Sound familiar? Lane is a tall, lanky receiver who isn’t explosive but is a smooth glider with deceptive speed and an under-appreciated route-runner. He excels at stacking his matchup on vertical stems, creating leverage advantages.

His route-running is also impressive, as every route looks the same. He can carry a vertical route and make it appear as if he is running a curl or comeback route until the very last moment, which keeps the defender flat-footed. For a taller receiver, he also doesn’t struggle with stiffness in his hips. He can’t cut on a dime like a smaller, more elusive receiver, but he also doesn’t have an issue getting in and out of his breaks.

Lane’s hands are his calling card. His late hands are advanced for a prospect coming out of school, preventing his matchup from reading his eyes or making a play on the ball. But his ability to high-point the ball and make the rugged look simple is even more impressive. He has acrobatic moves that allow his body to contort to reach a ball out of reach, while maintaining the spatial awareness to know where the sideline is. His talents will make him a menace in the deep red zone, where every blade of grass matters.

Many of his concerns stem from his lanky frame, which raises questions about his strength at the next level. His great contested-catch ability makes up for his inability to take the top off the defense, but he must be able to find a way to fight through more physical defenders.

Pairing Lane with Metcalf will give Steelers fans a glimpse of what they thought they were getting before last season, though Lane has a long way to go to reach the level of George Pickens.

Others Considered: Antonio Williams/WR/Clemson, Derrick Moore/EDGE/Michigan, Connor Lew/IOL/Auburn, Garrett Nussmeier/QB/LSU

Round 3: Darrell Jackson Jr./IDL/Florida State

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Needing a solution to bolster the run defense, Jackson Jr. would provide the high-floor nose tackle that the team has been missing for a long time. Despite his size at 6’5 and 330 pounds, he is an explosive athlete on the interior who can wreak havoc in both the run game and against the pass. He won’t put up gaudy sack numbers, but he will be a guy who consistently collapses the pocket from the middle with the strength of his bull rush. His awareness is also high enough to realize when his strength isn’t working, where he has shown he can win with finesse as well as with an effective swim move.

Jackson Jr.’s primary responsibility and greatest success will come from his ability to stuff the run. He is a massive space eater and an excellent two-gap defender. His long wingspan allows him to lock out defenders from getting close to his body and shed to free himself. There is also potential in his lateral ability, which will enable him to scrape down the line of scrimmage on zone runs.

His potential is through the roof as a run defender, but he will need to be more explosive off the ball. He lacks consistent anticipation of the snap, which can delay his first movements and put him behind the 8-ball early. Although slightly smaller, if Jackson Jr. can put it all together and reach his potential, his contributions can rival those of Jordan Davis, who makes the people around him better with his presence.

Others Considered: Michael Trigg/TE/Baylor, Brian Parker II/OT/Duke, Julian Neal/CB/Arkansas, Dontay Corleone/IDL/Cincinnati

Round 3: Chandler Rivers/CB/Duke

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Rivers adds a feisty technician to the cornerback room, capable of handling slot challenges. At Duke, primarily a boundary corner, his 5’9″ frame suits inside play.

Not a talent insult. He excels in coverage, especially in zone, using sharp eyes to diagnose routes and quick acceleration to close on the ball. He plays aggressively but trustingly, sometimes baited by savvy receivers. His man coverage is smooth due to hip fluidity, allowing quick directional changes despite limited speed. Agile enough to stick to receivers, he’s rarely off balance, making him effective in the slot, where his quickness helps in ground and quick-passing plays. Despite weighing 185 pounds, he hits above his weight, reliably making tackles.

Adding Rivers would bolster the Steelers’ secondary, completing the back end.

Others Considered: Sam Hecht/IOL/Kansas State, Will Lee II/CB/Texas A&M, Deonte Lawson/LB/Alabama, Skyler Bell/WR/UConn

Round 4: Beau Stephens/OG/Iowa

Expected Role: Year 1 Starter

Analysis: With Isaac Seumalo becoming a free agent, the team must decide whether to re-sign him or look ahead. Iowa offensive linemen like Stephens seem promising. He was a standout on a Joe Moore Award-winning line and a first-team All-American last year after not allowing a sack.

Stephens has strong grip strength for both pass and run blocking. Once he hooks on, escape is unlikely. While not overly agile, he dropped to 315 pounds for better finesse. His pass protection is effective with a jump set, but weight loss hasn’t improved his quickness to recover if beaten. His play style favors mauling over finesse, with a sturdy anchor and a drive to move defenders on the ground.

Though he struggles to reach the second level, he’s a reliable displacer on the line capable of clearing defenders. Despite some limitations, Stephens offers a dependable, high-floor starter for a team aiming to secure its left side.

Others Considered: Ted Hurst/WR/Georgia State, C.J. Daniels/WR/Miami, Mike Washington Jr./RB/Arkansas, Taurean York/LB/Texas A&M

Round 4: Kevin Coleman Jr./WR/Missouri

Expected Role: Special-Teams Contributor/Possible Year 1 Starter

Analysis: Adding Lane in Round 3 was a good start to bolstering the receiver room, but adding Coleman propels it into exciting territory. Standing 5’11 and 180 pounds, he’s projected to play on the inside, and he has the talent to succeed in that role. As a slot player, it’s not a requirement to be the fastest on the field, and Coleman won’t be considered that, but he’s twitchy and explosive on film.

His route running is where he shines. He has a good understanding of how to manipulate defensive backs at the top of his routes with head fakes and sudden footwork. He also has a good feel for sinking his hips, which allows him to pivot in and out of breaks seamlessly and sell vertical routes more effectively. Due to his size, he has issues escaping more physical corners in press coverage, but instead of attacking the corner, he uses a split release to catch his matchup off-balance.

Although he doesn’t have the largest catch radius, he has highly dependable hands that attack the ball in the air. Despite his size, he catches well over the middle and in traffic, showing awareness in scramble drills to create openings.

Adding Coleman to the mix would be a seamless transition for a West Coast offense that Mike McCarthy likes to deploy. A player of his talent shows traits comparable to those of Tank Dell before his injury. Both are smaller-statured but have found ways to produce with their quickness and ability to separate.

Others Considered: Josh Cameron/WR/Baylor, Bryce Lance/WR/NDSU, Lander Barton/LB/Utah, Sawyer Robertson/QB/Baylor

Round 5: Drew Allar/QB/Penn State

Expected Role: Depth/Developmental Prospect

Analysis: The ultimate wildcard in this upcoming draft class, Allar possesses all the physical traits of a starting-caliber passer. He’s never put it all together, though. Standing at 6’5 and weighing 240 pounds, he has a prototypical frame for an NFL quarterback. After a polarizing college career in which he never found consistency, teams will have to assess how much they value his physical abilities.

Most notably, Allar has a cannon arm that can stretch the field. The ball explodes out of his hand, giving him the chance to attempt passes that other passers are unwilling to try. Coupled with his ability to vary arm angles, he can make impressive off-platform throws. Due to his size, he can absorb hits and still make throws with enough power despite the contact.

Outside of his physical gifts, he has much to work on. His mechanics need an overhaul. The upper-lower-body dynamic of his throwing motion is entirely out of sync. Despite great upper-body strength and a compact throwing motion, his footwork remains lazy. In his dropback, his narrow feet disrupt balance, and he fails to transfer weight from back to front foot. This causes most of his power to come from his arm rather than his lower body, which leads to most of his accuracy issues.

There is also a need for growth in his pocket movement and presence. He makes an edge rusher’s life easier by drifting in a clean pocket and subtly moving into their path. His drifts also contribute to his accuracy woes by causing him to throw while fading away, resulting in sailed passes.

The Steelers hired Mike McCarthy for his quarterback development and to find their next franchise signal-caller. Allar is a major project for McCarthy, but his physical talent makes him too tempting to pass up in the draft.

Others Considered: Aiden Fisher/LB/Indiana, Marlin Klein/TE/Michigan, Dallen Bentley/TE/Utah, Cade Klubnik/QB/Clemson

Round 6: Bryce Boettcher/LB/Oregon

Expected Role: Rotational Depth/Special Teams Contributor

Analysis: In a continued effort to solidify their run defense, the Steelers need to find an enforcer in the middle they can deploy on early downs. After being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2024, Boettcher decided to return to Oregon to continue playing football. He proved it was a good decision, leading the team in tackles (136) and positioning himself for the NFL draft.

Boettcher is a highly instinctual player with a good feel for offensive flow and complete trust in his vision. He reacts quickly, positioning himself to make plays while rarely taking a false step in his reads. His physicality is always at its peak, and his tackling style is efficient, with a consistent leg drive through contact. He calculates his angles using triangulation, reading the ball carrier’s hips and the lineman’s helmet to beat the lineman to the spot.

He needs to develop and refine his game, but most of his issues stem from limited experience. His limited snaps as a true linebacker restrict his experience shedding blocks and tracking the ball in coverage. He has ample athletic potential, though he faces a steep learning curve.

Right away, he provides a high-motor run specialist who can serve as a thumper in the middle of the defense and aid a linebacking group that struggled in that area last year.

Others Considered: Keagen Trost/OL/Missouri, Cole Brevard/IDL/Texas, Ephysians Prysock/CB/Washington, Kaden Wetjen/WR/Iowa

Round 6: Keagen Trost/OL/Missouri

Expected Role: Depth/Spot-Starter

Analysis: Trost was a standout impact player for a Missouri team that dominated on the ground. At 6’4, 315 pounds, he moves nimbly, reaching the second level and open space effortlessly. In zone schemes, he excels at a quick lateral bucket step to gain leverage and engage defenders.

Though more solidified in run blocking, his pass protection isn’t a liability. He doesn’t get much depth on his kick slide; instead, he uses a mirror-and-match approach. His base stays wide, and he maintains a square posture while jabbing rushers to disrupt their rhythm. Despite not getting much vertical depth initially, his problem isn’t against speed rushers but rather against power. He doesn’t lack technique, but more powerful rushers can collapse the pocket on him if his anchor is lacking.

The concern with Trost isn’t his performance last season, but his age. At nearly 25 at draft time, it’s uncertain if he’s reached his potential. A 22-year-old Trost is a potential Day 1 selection. Adding him upfront gives a reliable, low-cost depth option capable of spot starts.

Others Considered: Lewis Bond/WR/Boston College, Jager Burton/IOL/Kentucky, Cole Wisniewski/S/Texas Tech, Trey Moore/EDGE/Texas

Round 7: Dan Villari/TE/Syracuse

Expected Role: Sub-Package Contributor/Special Teams Contributor

Analysis: The Steelers’ offense needs more than just upgrades at receiver; they need a boost in playmakers. Villari adds to that collection with his position-less ability. He served as the primary tight end, posting 39 catches for 412 yards, and added value in gadget roles as a former quarterback.

As a pure tight end, he needs development in route-running polish. He is still learning the position, but his cuts are rounded and need to be sharper. His separation ability comes primarily from his understanding of defenses and where to find windows for the quarterback. His YAC potential raises his ceiling. He’s a bruiser after the catch, lowering his shoulder to churn out extra yards.

Villari won’t be a franchise-altering selection, but adding him would give the offense a “tweener” who can play multiple positions. He can play as a gadget quarterback, line up at fullback, move into the slot, or play a traditional Y. Hiring Mike McCarthy and Brian Angelichio will bring more modern concepts to the Steelers’ offense. Still, they will need playmakers to fulfill their vision. He may never master any particular role, but he becomes a jack-of-all-trades player like Taysom Hill.

Others Considered: Jakobe Thomas/S/Miami, Nate Boerkircher/TE/Texas A&M, Devan Boykin/S/Indiana, Wesley Williams/IDL/Duke

Round 7: Aaron Graves/IDL/Iowa

Expected Role: Rotational Depth

Analysis: In an effort to continuously deepen the trenches, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at a former wrestler. Graves lacks the high-end twitch and explosiveness needed for early draft consideration, limiting his transition. He’s a high-level player who uses leverage and strength effectively to impact all phases of the game.

His pass rush is solid, and he has a good arsenal at his disposal. He’s unlikely to be a double-digit sack producer, but he can collapse the pocket with a powerful bull rush. He uses other moves, like the “push-pull” and the “club-rip,” to some degree, but they are not his go-to’s. Like a wrestler, Graves is a tough matchup because he doesn’t give up after his first move fails. He has counters, and he’s always moving.

His efforts in the run game are just as effective. He’s not an easy wash. Graves shows good gap integrity with some wiggle to slide between linemen. He has ample strength to anchor against double teams and experience playing every defensive line position comfortably.

Moreover, Graves fits what this front office has been doing recently, taking high-character guys. He’s a team captain and a 4.0 student. If he hits his ceiling, he has traits and comparables to Zach Sieler.