Mock Draft 3.0: Early run forces Steelers' hand at RB

I run a lot of mock drafts in my spare time. It's an easy way to learn who might be available in different scenarios and do research on them to find out more about that player.

At this point, after running, oh, well over 1,000 mock drafts in the past month, I'm getting a pretty good handle on the players available.

As regular readers know, I've come to the conclusion that there are three true can't-miss starting running backs available in this year's draft. And if you miss on one of those guys, you're going to be going with a committee approach at the position.

That doesn't mean there won't be one or two additional backs that will hit from this draft. But figuring out who those will be will be a crap shoot.

I wasn't all that surprised then when running my latest official mock draft when two running backs were chosen before the Steelers' selection came up in the first round at pick 24. Alabama's Najee Harris went at 18 to the Dolphins, while Clemson's Travis Etienne went at 23 to the Jets.

I used thedraftnetwork.com mock drafter, which doesn't allow trades -- unless you pay for a subscription -- so there was no moving back in this one as I had done in my second mock. But that was fine. Given this scenario, I wasn't moving back. I'm taking my guy.

And that guy was North Carolina running back Javonte Williams, who I now have rated as my No. 1 back in this draft.

Why? There are several reasons. 

First, he hasn't yet turned 21. Harris has already turned 23, while Etienne is 22. And after sharing the backfield at North Carolina with Michael Carter -- another back who will be taken in the first two days of this draft -- Williams handled half the workload of Harris and Etienne in his career. He's got a lot of tread left on his tires.

And then there is this:

And this:

He's got power. He's got speed. He catches the ball well.

So, without any further ado, here is my latest mock draft.

Round 1, Pick 24: Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina -- We had NFL Films' and NFL Matchup host Greg Cosell on my podcast, The Drive, this week and I asked him if the running back makes the line or the line makes the running back. His answer? "I was told years and years ago, and I’m sure the analytics people will say this is false, but I was told this by coaches, that the running back makes the running game, not the offensive line," Cosell said. "Obviously, if you’ve got a terrible offensive line, that’s different. Assuming your offensive line is good enough and you have some kind of commitment to running the ball, you can have success if you have a quality back. My guess is the Steelers will probably be in the market for a back." Williams broke 76 tackle attempts on just 156 carries last season according to Pro Football Focus. AT 5-10, 220 pounds, he's a wrecking ball of a back with speed.

Round 2, Pick 55: Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky -- We know the Steelers love to take linebackers early in the draft. And why not help replace one former Kentucky linebacker -- Bud Dupree -- with another? Davis is an inside backer, but he's 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds and runs like a deer. He'd be the perfect compliment to Devin Bush inside and would give the Steelers two ultra-quick linebackers in the middle of the field. I passed on some second-tier offensive tackles to make this pick, but that's OK. Keep a strength a strength.

Round 3, Pick 87: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa -- Brown didn't play in 2020, but he's 6-foot-8 and 314 pounds. He offers size few can match -- in any draft. Brown won't be an opening day starter, but he's talented enough that he'll eventually work his way into the mix. And he can be used as an extra blocker on obvious run downs to get his feet wet. A big upside player.

Round 4, Pick 128: Kary Vincent Jr., CB, LSU -- Vincent was an opt out in 2020, but the last time we saw him on the field in 2019, when he had four interceptions and eight pass breakups while was helping LSU to a national championship. At 5-foot-10, 189 pounds, he's probably better suited for the slot in the NFL. That's fine since the Steelers could be looking for immediate help there.

Round 4, Pick 140: Jaelon Darden, WR, North Texas -- Despite being 5-foot-9, 174 pounds, Darden scored 32 touchdowns in the past two seasons, including 19 in just nine games in 2020. Tackling him is a chore for any defense. He's a juiced up, better version of Ray-Ray McCloud who will be a nice fit in Matt Canada's offense on end arounds and jet sweeps.

Round 6, Pick 214: Patrick Johnson, OLB, Tulane -- Johnson had 21 sacks and 34 tackles for a loss in the past three seasons over a span of 34 games. He knows how to get into the backfield. He might not have as high of a ceiling as some of the edge rushers taken before him in this draft, but he can immediately step into the mix as a No. 3 outside linebacker. Watching his tape reminds me of Alex Highsmith.

Round 7, Pick 244: Drew Dalman, C, Stanford --  Dalman has experience at both center and guard, but he's more of a true center in the NFL who can play guard in a pinch. Dalman comes from a pro-style offense at Stanford and uses excellent hand placement and technique. He'll need to continue to get stronger, but he's a nice developmental center. And the Steelers could very well add another center in free agency, even after signing B.J. Finney.

Round 7, Pick 253: Lorenzo Neal, DE, Purdue -- The son of former longtime the former NFL fullback by the same name, Neal has NFL bloodlines. And he's a very disruptive, up-the-field defensive lineman. Neal has an outstanding motor that is always running at full speed. At 6-3, 320 pounds, he could be used at end or even get a shot at nose tackle, though he's more of a penetrator than a guy who will hold the point of attack. That seems to be what the Steelers want more, anyway.