Lolley's Mock Draft 7.0: Steelers check off all the boxes

We're now less than two weeks out from the 2021 NFL Draft. To quote Bill Murray's Carl Spackler character in Caddyshack, "I guess the kidding around is pretty much over."

It's time to get serious about this thing.

So it's time to start settling in on some real draft targets for the Steelers. 

The drama over who will be their first-round pick is all but over. If Najee Harris is available with the 24th pick, he will be the selection. Bet on it.

Spare me the analytics about not taking a running back in the first round. In 2019, the Raiders took Josh Jacobs with the 24th pick. Think they're OK with that? 

We're not talking about taking Leonard Fournette with the fourth-overall pick. We're talking about the 24th selection.

But the draft hardly stops there. And the Steelers have some other needs they'd like to fill, most notably, adding another offensive tackle, center, inside linebacker, cornerback and edge rusher.  They take care of all of this in this draft, as Kevin Colbert often does. It's why he rates highly among his peers year-in and year-out.

So, let's stop kidding around and get down to business with this one.

Round 1, Pick 24: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama: Honestly, at this point, this is a no-brainer. The Steelers haven't added a starting running back to their roster and Harris is most certainly that. I passed on linebackers Zaven Collins and Azeez Ojulari, running back Javonte Williams and cornerback Caleb Farley to make this pick, but I feel completely comfortable doing so, especially after the Cardinals took Travis Etienne with the 16th selection. Interestingly enough, the Jaguars traded up to take Williams with the 25th pick, so all three of the top running backs went in the first round.

Round 2, Pick 55: James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati: A really athletic but raw offensive tackle, Hudson began his career at Michigan as a defensive tackle before moving over to offense. He bends well and there is a lot of moldable clay here. Hudson gets the nod here over offensive tackle Brady Christenson and Stone Forsythe, a pair of risers on the offensive tackle board, and cornerbacks Elijah Molden and Aaron Robinson. In another draft class that isn't as deep at offensive tackle, Forsythe might be a first-round pick. And the top three center prospects -- Landon Dickerson, Creed Humphrey and Quinn Meinerz -- are all gone.

Round 3, Pick 87: Kendrick Green, C, Illinois: There's a lot to like about Green, starting with his play demeanor. He just buries people. Like Humphrey and Meinerz, he's a former hi-level high school wrestler. He also tested really well. He only started four games in his college career at center, but that's fine. He's a massive run blocker and very athletic. He's the pick over tight end Hunter Long and cornerback Robert Rochell. Green could be an immediate starter if he picks up on things quickly, and Green next to Kevin Dotson could be a big, powerful duo on the interior for a long time. And yes, he wears No. 53.

Round 4, Pick 128: Marco Wilson, CB, Florida: At 6-0, 197 pounds at his pro day, Wilson -- the brother of former NFL corner Quincy Wilson -- had a ridiculous 44-inch vertical jump, an 11-foot, 4-inch broad jump and ran a 4.37 40-yard dash while coming in well above average in his three-cone and short shuttles. He's also capable of playing inside or outside. There's a lot to like here -- except for that shoe toss against LSU that cost the Gators a win against the Tigers. He likely learned his lesson from that.

Round 4, Pick 140: Garrett Wallow, LB, TCU: A former safety, Wallow is bulked up to 230 pounds at 6-2. He ran in the mid-4.6s at his pro day, so there's plenty of speed there for a fourth-round pick. At the very least, he could serve as a nickel and dime linebacker early in his career while he gains experience. He should also be a star on special teams. There are some mid-level edge rushers I pass on here, but Wallow is a good mid-round target. We'll address the edge spot later.

Round 6, Pick 216: Malcolm Koonce, Edge, Buffalo: The Steelers have had their share of success with MAC edge rushers and they get perhaps the best one in this year's draft in Koonce. He had five sacks in six games in 2020 after recording eight in 11 games in 2019. Koonce has a nice bend around the edge and a nice club move that is his go-to in pass rushing situations. I took him over Patrick Johnson of Tulane, a similar player who isn't quite as athletic as Koonce.

Round 7, Pick 245: Luke Farrell, TE, Ohio State: Farrell checked in a 6-6, 251 pounds at the Ohio State pro day. He was underutilized as a pass catcher at Ohio State, but he is a plus blocker and could be able to provide some help there immediately at the NFL level. Farrell routinely blocked linebackers and defensive linemen at Ohio State, so he won't be overwhelmed being asked to seal the edge in the NFL. And he should be an excellent special teams player. Expect a veteran tight end to be signed after the draft, as well.

Round 7, Pick 253: Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State: Wide receiver isn't a glaring need, but it could be in 2022, so why not grab a player who can challenge Ray-Ray McCloud for a spot on the roster. Johnson has experience as a return man. At 6-0, 184 pounds, he brings a little more size to the position, but he's primarily a slot player. At the very least, he makes the practice squad this season with an eye toward next season.