Welcome to Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft Monday version 5.0, where I continue to throw darts at the unknown. Reminder: this is not what I expect the team to do at the time of the draft, but it serves as one of many possible paths. Let\u2019s have some fun!<\/p>\n
Round 1: Denzel Boston\/WR\/Washington<\/p>\n
Expected Role:\u00a0Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n
Analysis:\u00a0For the past several seasons, the Steelers have struggled to put together a dynamic receiving corps. While DK Metcalf is a physical specimen who can take over a game, he needs help. Why not supplement one physically superior receiver with a second one? Boston is a towering presence at 6-4 with nimble feet, though he\u2019s not as fast as Metcalf. He doesn\u2019t have raw explosive traits, but he wins with nuance and technicality.<\/p>\n
As a route runner, Boston is more successful facing man than zone coverage. There is surprising hip fluidity that allows him to sink and cut more smoothly than most receivers of his size. He also has a good understanding of how to use his routes, which makes up for his lack of top-end speed. He forces defenders to open their hips on vertical routes, creating separation for him to cut in or out. Against press coverage, he wins with his physicality, using his hands to wipe the defender\u2019s jam attempt.<\/p>\n
The most notable trait is his ability to win contested catches. He\u2019s a natural hands catcher<\/a> who attacks the ball in the air while also showing impressive body control. He treats the sidelines like a weapon, demonstrating good spatial awareness to get his feet in bounds.<\/p>\n The Steelers desperately need to find a receiver to take pressure off Metcalf, and Boston would be that. Although he won\u2019t be a speed threat, there is more nuance to the position that augurs well for his success.<\/p>\n Others Considered: KC Concepcion\/WR\/Texas A&M, Caleb Banks\/IDL\/Florida, Kayden McDonald\/IDL\/Ohio State, Avieon Terrell\/CB\/Clemson<\/p>\n Round 2: Emmanuel Pregnon\/OG\/Oregon<\/p>\n Expected Role: Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Given the uncertainty surrounding Isaac Seumalo, the Steelers need to secure the left side of the offensive line\u2019s future. Pregnon would be a plug-and-play starter who provides stability. Excelling in both pass protection and mauling defenders in the run game, he is one of the highest-floor players in this draft.<\/p>\n As a pass protector, he is a wall. His best trait is his anchor, which drops the moment a defender tries to bull rush him. If Pregnon gets his feet set under him, he wins. It\u2019s extremely difficult for defenders to get through him with raw power alone. He\u2019s not a sit-and-react player either. He uses heavy hands to stonewall defenders when his jab connects. While he excels against power, speed can give him some trouble. There is a delay in his foot speed that can lead to struggles recovering against more explosive defenders. The issue wasn\u2019t as pronounced at the college level because his length and strength were sufficient to mitigate it.<\/p>\n Thanks to his raw power, Pregnon is even more impressive as a run blocker. A true people mover, he uses consistent leg drive to displace people out of their assignments. Although he struggles with quickness in the pass game, he can move laterally on the ground. He demonstrates effectiveness when pulling on gap schemes with good angle selection.<\/p>\n At 24, there is concern about his age, but adding Pregnon would give the offense a high-floor solution at left guard and a player who could blossom into a Pro Bowler.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Christen Miller\/IDL\/Georgia, Keith Abney II\/CB\/Arizona State, Chris Johnson\/CB\/San Diego State, Chase Bisontis\/IOL\/Texas A&M<\/p>\n Round 3: Kamari Ramsey\/S\/USC<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis:\u00a0With Jalen Ramsey turning 32 this year and DeShon Elliott nearing 30, the Steelers need a youth movement on the back end. Kamari Ramsey would provide a Year-1 contributor who could split time at safety and also gain experience as a nickel defender. He isn\u2019t the twitchiest athlete, but he has more than enough speed to mirror defenders in coverage.<\/p>\n As a safety, Ramsey brings experience barking out signals from his deep position and has a good understanding of what the offense tries to do. He plays with an \u201ceyes up\u201d mentality, reading the quarterback\u2019s eyes and reacting to his movements. In coverage, he has oily hips that flip smoothly and serve him well when covering the deep middle. His backpedal is pristine, allowing him to transition to a full sprint without losing any momentum.<\/p>\n As a corner, he\u2019s sticky in coverage. He\u2019s able to effectively mirror shorter, quicker receivers and stay on their hip in man coverage. Ramsey doesn\u2019t have the biggest frame, so he can lose battles against more physical receivers. His efforts would also provide a bonus as a blitzer. He takes solid pursuit angles and makes emphatic contact at the point of attack.<\/p>\n Adding a player of Ramsey\u2019s caliber would provide Patrick Graham with a new and exciting chess piece.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Malik Muhammed\/CB\/Texas, Antonio Williams\/WR\/Clemson, Gabe Jacas\/EDGE\/Illinois, Garrett Nussmeier\/QB\/LSU<\/p>\n Round 3: Ted Hurst\/WR\/Georgia State<\/p>\n Expected Role: Special Teams Contributor\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis:\u00a0Considering the Steelers are entering the draft with 12 selections, if there is a position that requires double-dipping, it\u2019s receiver. Adding Boston is a good start, and selecting Hurst would give the offense a young and exciting duo to develop together. Like Boston, Hurst doesn\u2019t have elite twitch, but he wins consistently with leverage and positioning.<\/p>\n Some players offer better route-running prowess on Day 1, but Hurst has the potential to grow in this department. He is a long strider rather than a quick accelerator, but he uses that to his advantage. His understanding of pacing his strides involves manipulation. He can lull defenders into relax before breaking on his routes. Hurst also knows how to take advantage of defensive backs\u2019 blind spot, getting them to turn their head in anticipation of a route before cutting the other direction.<\/p>\n Another similarity to Boston is that his ability to attack the ball in the air is his greatest strength. At 6-3, he attacks the ball like a rebound, shielding the defender from making a play. More impressively, he understands how to use late hands to trick the defender into thinking the ball isn\u2019t coming his way until the last moment.<\/p>\n Hurst is comparable to pre-injury Michael Gallup, who excelled at<\/a> attacking the ball in the air. Adding him would bring a new dynamic to the Steelers\u2019 receiving group.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Eli Stowers\/TE\/Vanderbilt, Dani Dennis-Sutton\/EDGE\/Penn State, Brian Parker II\/OT\/Duke, Dontay Corleone\/IDL\/Cincinnati<\/p>\n Round 3: Julian Neal\/CB\/Arkansas<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Potential Year 1 Starter<\/p>\n Analysis: Given uncertainty of Asante Samuel Jr. and James Pierre\u2019s future with the Steelers \u2014 both are free agents come March \u2014 it would be wise to add some talent to the room. Ideally, the organization attempts to re-sign one, if not both, while adding a rookie to ease their transition. Neal is a physical corner with prototypical size at 6-2 and 208 pounds. He balances his size with limited twitch ability. It\u2019s not bad, but you can tell he is longer.<\/p>\n Neal is at his best when he can step up to the line and affect his matchup early in the play. He\u2019s a press-man specialist who has an excellent initial jab that maximizes his length. Despite being physical, he shows good patience with his aggressiveness, which keeps him from lunging at defenders.<\/p>\n As a run defender, there\u2019s an argument he\u2019s the best cornerback in the draft. With just one miss, Neal is a sure tackler who drives through the ball carrier. A former safety, he is adept at getting downhill quickly and adjusting his pursuit angles.<\/p>\n Neal would bring a rejuvenated physicality to the Steelers\u2019 cornerback room and offer the team an exciting developmental option on the outside.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Michael Trigg\/TE\/Baylor, Devin Moore\/CB\/Florida, Treydan Stukes\/CB\/Arizona, Gracen Halton\/IDL\/Oklahoma<\/p>\n Round 4: Oscar Delp\/TE\/Georgia<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Sub-package Player\/Developmental Option<\/p>\n Analysis:\u00a0Jonnu Smith is a cut candidate after a disappointing season. Enter Oscar Delp, who does everything that Smith is known for but on a cheaper contract and also offers exciting potential. Delp is a versatile chess piece who can move around the offense and plays like a big receiver rather than a traditional tight end.<\/p>\n His route running is highly impressive for someone who is nearly 250 pounds. Most of his success in this department comes from his fluidity. He has loose hips that transition through his breaks seamlessly without breaking speed. Speaking of speed, Delp has plenty of it. He is a legitimate vertical threat for a tight end who can stretch the seams and outrun linebackers.<\/p>\n Although it\u2019s not his calling card, he\u2019s shown to be a willing blocker. Delp fights through the whistle and is more effective when he can block on the move. He\u2019s not afraid to get his nose in the fight, but his functional strength as an inline blocker is minimal, which will limit him initially.<\/p>\n Delp would provide an additional weapon the offense can deploy, with the potential to grow into more than a one-dimensional player.<\/p>\n Others Considered:\u00a0Tim Keenan III\/IDL\/Alabama, Taurean York\/LB\/Texas A&M, Carson Beck\/QB\/Miami, Chris McClellan\/IDL\/Missouri<\/p>\n Round 4: Caden Curry\/EDGE\/Ohio State<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth<\/p>\n Analysis:\u00a0After selecting an Ohio State edge rusher in last year\u2019s draft, the Steelers decide to do it again. Nick Herbig\u2019s breakout creates a difficult situation<\/a> the team must address. Nevertheless, it never hurts to build on a strength. Curry shares many similarities with Jack Sawyer, his former Ohio State teammate, including his high-effort attitude.<\/p>\n His entire game is built around his motor. He consistently wins on secondary efforts and chases the ball sideline to sideline. Curry isn\u2019t someone who hopes the play stays alive long enough for him to win, though. He\u2019s got serious power in his arsenal that jolts linemen on impact. The bread and butter of his pass sets is a bull rush that generates enough strength to collapse the pocket. When that doesn\u2019t initially work, he is aware enough to transition into a rip or spin counter that makes him well-rounded.<\/p>\n Another similarity to Sawyer is that Curry\u2019s stout against the run. He has enough strength to lock out linemen on the outside effectively and set the edge. His primary upside as a run stuffer is his selflessness. He\u2019s okay with maintaining his gap responsibility and letting his teammates make the play rather than chasing stats.<\/p>\n There are physical limitations to his game that will give some teams pause, but Sawyer surpassed expectations as a rookie. Curry has the potential to do the same.<\/p>\n Others Considered: Keyron Crawford\/EDGE\/Auburn, Zane Durant\/IDL\/Penn State, Michael Taaffe\/S\/Texas, Lander Barton\/LB\/Utah<\/p>\n Round 5: Aiden Fisher\/LB\/Indiana<\/p>\n Expected Role:\u00a0Rotational Depth\/Special Teams Contributor<\/p>\n