Steelers host O-lineman Mauch, WR Jones for visits taken in Altoona, Pa. (Steelers)

Purdue Athletics

Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones.

The Steelers are hosting top 30 visits Friday with two guys who may not be first-round picks, but who could end up being very productive NFL players.

North Dakota State offensive tackle Cody Mauch, a potential second-round pick, is meeting with team officials. Also, Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones, considered underrated by some, is visiting with the Steelers.

Mauch is viewed as a mid- to late-second-round pick. He measured in at 6-foot-5 and 302 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine and ranked as the fifth-highest rated offensive tackle.

He also has worked out at guard and center, so versatility could be a factor in his draft slot.

The Steelers pick 32nd and 49th, so Mauch could be on their radar with one of those selections.

Here's an interesting tidbit about Mauch's background from his combine scouting report:

"Mauch played nine-man football in high school, setting the Hankinson, North Dakota, school record for both career touchdowns and sacks. He redshirted as a walk-on tight end at NDSU and then added 40 pounds to move to the offensive line in the spring of 2018. ... Mauch was a second-team Associated Press All-American and a first-team all-conference pick in 2021, starting all 15 games at left tackle as the team again took the FCS title. The AP voted him a first-team All-American in 2022, as did the MVFC coaches, as he started all 15 games at left tackle."

His combine grade came with the analysis of "will eventually be a plus starter."

Jones had a sensational senior season for Purdue, catching 110 passes for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 12 catches against Penn State in the season opener -- although not going up against Joey Porter Jr. for much of the game -- and finished his season with 13 catches for 162 yards against Michigan in the Big Ten championship game. He opted out of the bowl game.

Jones is only 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds. But, he catches everything thrown his way and ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine, where he ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver.

He began his career at Buffalo, first walked on at Iowa and then finished at Purdue. He was the Big Ten's top return specialist in 2021 at Iowa and was the conference's receiver of the year for Purdue in 2022.

Jones is viewed primarily as a fourth-round pick, although his sure hands, speed and return abilities might convince a team to take him earlier.

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