Though the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey was not unexpected, it does create another hole in the Steelers' lineup.
But even if Pouncey had come back, the Steelers were intent on improving their offensive line and running game in this year's draft. His retirement just means that center becomes a much higher priority.
Mock drafts at this time of year are tough. We haven't had the NFL Scouting Combine yet -- nor will we this year. Pro days haven't taken place. And, perhaps even more importantly, compensatory picks have yet to be awarded. Those are expected to be announced in early March.
With that in mind, be kind when looking at this mock draft for the Steelers. Their actual draft might not look anything like this. They figure to receive two additional picks as compensatory selections, a fourth-rounder for Javon Hargrave and a sixth-round selection for the loss of Nick Vannett.
Typically when I've run mock drafts -- which I do a lot using the mock draft simulator on profootballnetwork.com -- I wind up trading back in the first round and acquiring more picks in the second and third rounds. But for this exercise, I stayed true to the process to give a look into who might be available if the Steelers stay in their spot.
Round 1, Pick 24: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State -- I could have taken running back Najee Harris here, but Jenkins projects to being a true left tackle in the NFL. And that's too good to pass up. Harris went with the next pick to the Jaguars. Had I moved down a little, Michigan's Jalen Mayfield would have been the pick. Had I dropped into the second round, things would have been a little more dicey. I probably would have taken a center first or, depending on how far I dropped, a running back would have been the selection. As it is, I get an athletic, 22-year-old offensive tackle with experience on both sides with which to build my line around. He has a nice nasty streak, as well.
Round 2, Pick 55: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina -- I was on pins and needles after passing on Harris in the first round. I wasn't sure Williams would slip to me. And after him, there are some backs who can help me, but will be more rotational guys, including his former North Carolina teammate Michael Carter. At 5-10, 220 pounds, Williams has the size the Steelers seem to covet at the position. His contact balance is outstanding. He catches the ball well. Williams immediately becomes the Steelers' starter in the backfield and upgrades their rushing game. He averaged 7.3 yards per carry and scored 22 total touchdowns last season for the Tar Heels. He's one of my favorite players in this draft. I passed on centers Landon Dickerson and Josh Myers here, hoping to get my center in the third round.
Round 3, Pick 87: Quinn Meinerz, C, Wisconsin-Whitewater -- Again, I was on pins and needles. There are four centers I feel can come in and play right away, Creed Humphrey, Dickerson, Myers and Meinerz. Meinerz will be making the jump from being a dominant college guard at the Division III level, but his work in the practices at the Senior Bowl showed he can make that jump. This dude is strong. He didn't play in the Senior Bowl after breaking his hand during practices -- likely when he was pancaking yet another top prospect -- but he pushed hard to play in the game despite that. Meinerz also works out with the Watt brothers in the offseason. The Steelers will have all kinds of inside information on this diamond in the rough. He is nasty. I didn't even consider anyone else here and sprinted to the podium to make this pick, especially with my tight end target, Hunter Long of Boston College, long gone.
Round 4, Pick 128: Monty Rice, Georgia -- With three big offensive needs filled, it's time to address the defense. A corner, defensive lineman or edge rusher would make sense. But so does a run-and-hit inside linebacker to pair with Devin Bush. And I get one in Rice, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound linebacker with speed who will fill that need. Rice needs to get better with his recognition skills, but that's not out of the ordinary for young linebackers. But he covers a lot of ground and will make the Steelers defense a lot faster next to Bush.
Round 4, Pick 141: Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State -- A highly-energy run stuffer, Wilson can get to the quarterback. He had 8 1/2 sacks the past two seasons. At 6-4, 310 pounds, he's better against the run than as a rusher, however. He's not real twitchy, but he could hold up on the nose. And he's a high-motor guy, which is always a plus. The Steelers need to spend a pick on someone other than a late-round flyer on the line. And Wilson could play end or nose and develop into a starter while serving as a rotational player now.
Round 6, Pick 217: Bryan Mills, CB, North Carolina Central -- At 6-foot-2, Mills has excellent length. But at 182 pounds, he'll need to fill out a little. He did have five interceptions last season, so there are some ball skills with which to work. Mills would work well as a developmental outside cornerback.
Round 6, Pick 225: Noah Gray, TE, Duke -- I would have loved to address the tight end position earlier in the draft, but there aren't many combo tight ends available. Long would be one, with Tre McKitty out of Georgia and Gray being at least willing blockers. Gray will need to put on some weight -- he's 6-foot-4, 244 pounds -- but there is some room to do so. And while he's not a great blocker, he's very willing. And coming from Duke, he's smart, which helps. He's also a former quarterback, which seems to happen a lot at the position. Gray projects to a No. 3 tight end once he gets his strength up. But at least he's got some tools with which to work to perhaps be a No. 2 someday.
Round 7, Pick 244: Brandin Echols, CB, Kentucky -- At 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, Echols projects as a nickel corner. He's willing in run support and good in man coverage. In two seasons as a starter at Kentucky, he had 11 pass defenses but just one interception, so his ball skills are a little untapped. But his skillset matches up nicely in the slot and he can help on special teams immediately.
Round 7, Pick 253: Racey McMath, WR, LSU -- McMath didn't have a lot of production at LSU. He caught just 14 passes for 195 yards with one touchdown in 2020. But he had 17 catches for 220 yards and three scores in 2019 with Joe Burrow at QB. He's just never been heavily targeted in an uber-talented LSU WR room, getting 49 passes thrown his way in his career -- catching 33 of them. But at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he has very good size for the position. And he should run well. He also has played a lot of special teams in his career and done well there, which will be a must. This is a shot at a high-upside prospect who might have gotten overshadowed a bit in college by a team with a bunch of first-round picks at the position. And it's the seventh round, so why not?