With the Super Bowl over and the start of free agency still just over a month away, it's that time of year in NFL circles where every person with a website starts putting out mock drafts.
I'm not going to do that -- yet. The mock drafts will come later. After the NFL Scouting Combine, which will be held at the end of this month.
Anything that comes out before that is strictly guessing. And that has been quite obvious from many of the mock drafts I've seen thus far. Quite frankly, any mock draft that has the Steelers taking a quarterback or cornerback in the first round -- and that seems to be the majority of them -- can be tossed out. That's not happening.
If the Steelers take an offensive player in the first round of the draft, it will be a running back because they have decided to let Le'Veon Bell walk. And they'll know that long before the draft is held April 26.
That doesn't mean the Steelers won't be interested in an offensive player or two in this year's draft even if they keep Bell. A receiver in the middle to late rounds would help keep the position stocked, and the team also could use a pick on an offensive lineman late, as well.
With that in mind, here's a look at some guys to keep an eye on when the combine kicks off Feb. 27. Remember, these are only some guys to watch who were invited to the combine. I'll take a look at the defensive players early next week.
RUNNING BACKS
FIRST ROUND: Ronald Jones, USC; Sony Michel, Georgia. Saquon Barkley will be long gone and I don't expect Derrius Guice to be available either. Jones (6-1, 195) had 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last season at USC, and though he wasn't used much in the passing game, he can catch the ball, as well. A speedster, he was a high school 100 meter champion and also competed on the USC track team. Michel (5-11, 222) shared time with Nick Chubb for the Bulldogs, but he's a tick better as a pro prospect, especially if he runs as well as expected at the combine.
SECOND ROUND: Royce Freeman, Oregon; Chubb, Georgia; Kerryon Johnson, Auburn. Freeman (5-10, 232) had monster freshman and sophomore seasons before playing through injuries as a junior last year that caused his production to falter. He bounced back with a strong senior season, finishing his career with over 5,600 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns. Chubb, meanwhile, split time with Michel but also has the look of a lead back at the NFL level. He had a knee injury in 2015, but at 5-11, 228 pounds, he runs with power and good speed. Johnson (6-0, 212) reminds me of Bell in some ways and is solid as a runner and receiver. He'll also stick his nose in when pass blocking, a rarity for college backs. But he's not as talented as a runner, overall, as some of the guys rated ahead of him.
LATER ROUNDS: Rashaad Penny, San Diego State, Mark Walton, Miami (Fla.), John Kelly, Tennessee: Penny (5-11, 220) has good size and was very productive at San Diego State, while Walton (5-9, 205) isn't quite as big, but offers a decent size/speed ratio. Kelly fits the role of third-down back in the NFL. He had 36 catches for the Vols last season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
FOURTH ROUND: DeaSean Hamilton, Penn State; Cedrick Wilson Jr., Boise State; Deon Cain, Clemson. Hamilton (6-1, 205) offers good size for a guy who played the slot in college. But as a slot receiver, he should have a solid route tree and be comfortable in traffic. He's also reportedly an excellent character kid. Wilson (6-3, 190) is the son of the former Steelers receiver of the same name. Wilson has good size and should run well at the combine, but he's also only been a receiver for two seasons at Boise after transferring from a JC. He also is a solid return guy. Cain (6-1, 210) has the size and speed of some of the other former Clemson receivers now playing in the NFL but struggled as the No. 1 last season for the Tigers. However, he can take the top off a defense.
LATER ROUNDS: Javon Wims, Georgia; Trey Quinn, SMU; Justin Watson, Penn. Wims (6-4, 215) offers outstanding size but had only one productive season at Georgia. Quinn transferred from LSU to SMU and caught 114 passes last season as a junior, while Watson, a South Fayette High School graduate, was dominant at Penn, catching 286 passes in four seasons.
OFFENSIVE LINE
SIXTH ROUND: Will Clapp, LSU; Scott Quessenberry, UCLA. Clapp (6-5, 309) is a powerful blocker who has played all over the interior of LSU's offensive line, a position of need for the Steelers, who will be looking long term at replacing Ramon Foster after 2018. At the very least, Clapp could serve as a swing lineman on game days. Quessenberry (6-4, 315), like Clapp, played both center and guard at UCLA. New defensive backs coach Tom Bradley should be able to give the Steelers the scoop on another potential swing interior lineman.