Happy Draft Day! Not only do you guys get a full first-round mock, but here's a full seven-round Steelers mock draft to go on top of it:
FIRST ROUND (15th overall): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
In my first-round mock draft, I have the Steelers trading with the Buccaneers to jump six spots from their initial 21st overall pick to snag Lemon. I believe the Steelers really like him and will likely need to jump in front of the Jets to make it happen.
SECOND ROUND (53rd overall): Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
There's no guarantee Rutledge is here, but if the Steelers land a receiver in the first round and Rutledge is available here, I don't see them passing him up. Rutledge plays with a mean streak, giving the Steelers potentially a duo at guard, alongside Mason McCormick, that just love to beat people up.
THIRD ROUND (85th overall): Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Allar's draft stock has fizzled down the stretch, leading me to believe he'll be here for the plucking at 85th overall. The traits are hard to pass on. He's 6-5, 228 pounds, has elite arm talent and has enough mobility to make him a threat to create outside the pocket or pick up back-breaking yards with his legs. There's a lot to clean up with his footwork and joining his upper- and lower-body mechanics, but coaches don't shy away from that.
THIRD ROUND (99th overall): Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL)
Bell is a mountain of a man at 6-9 and 346 pounds with 36 3/8-inch arms. He's an impressive athlete for a man of his size, too. If he gets a hold of a defender, he usually doesn't let go. His height can create a high number of leverage disadvantages, putting a huge emphasis on technique. He might also struggle with speedy rushers off the edge. But, Bell could still be an interesting get at this stage of the draft that helps fortify the tackle position, especially if Broderick Jones' prognosis is less than promising.
FOURTH ROUND (121st overall): Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
The Steelers hosted Davis for a pre-draft visit. He's got great size and length (6-4, 194 pounds, 33 3/8-inch arms), runs fast (4.41 40-yard dash) that could either continue on as a press-man cornerback or eventually turn into a roaming free safety. He's a bit raw, but Day 3 is when to take the toolsy players and try to develop them into something greater.
A Day 3 tight end is in the cards for the Steelers. The German-born Klein is new to football, but the Steelers had him in for a pre-draft visit and seem to really have interest here. Klein is limited as a pure athlete, but has serious blocking upside and catches whatever is thrown to him.
FIFTH ROUND (161st overall): Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Yes, I believe the Steelers will double dip at wide receiver in this class, especially if they wind up with nearly all of the picks with which they enter the draft. Caldwell, another prospect who had a pre-draft visit with the Steelers, looks like he was built in a factory for elite wide receivers. He's 6-5, 216 pounds, huge hands (9 3/4 inches), ran a blazing 4.31 40-yard dash at the Combine, where he also produced a ridiculous 42-inch vertical and 11-foot-2 broad jump. He's very, very raw and needs to grow in a lot of ways, but the tools are so salivating that if he's available here (he could be long gone), it's worth the home run swing.
SIXTH ROUND (216th overall): Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
There are questions about Perkins' ACL tear in 2024, but he's been a very productive linebacker at LSU (35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and eight forced fumbles in four seasons).
SEVENTH ROUND (224th overall): TJ Hall, CB, Iowa
Hall has smooth hips, feet quick and plays with an edge, but he's limited as an athlete and lacks long speed to run with receivers (4.59 40-yard dash). If he slides into the seventh round, this could be a great late Day 3 find.
Eastern has great size (6-5, 315 piunds) and long 34-inch arms, but is very raw and needs to be coached up both in run blocking and in the pass rush. He played in the A gap quite a bit, but he struggles in eating space, making it difficult to project whether he's better as a nose or 3-4 defensive end.
SEVENTH ROUND (237th overall): James Thompson Jr., DT, Illinois
Thompson is built like a prototypical 3-4 defensive end and can help defend the run, but he's really behind in his ability to rush the passer. The Steelers had him in for a pre-draft visit, so there could be interest in him late in the draft.
THE ASYLUM
Seven-round mock draft: Swing at QB
Happy Draft Day! Not only do you guys get a full first-round mock, but here's a full seven-round Steelers mock draft to go on top of it:
FIRST ROUND (15th overall): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
In my first-round mock draft, I have the Steelers trading with the Buccaneers to jump six spots from their initial 21st overall pick to snag Lemon. I believe the Steelers really like him and will likely need to jump in front of the Jets to make it happen.
SECOND ROUND (53rd overall): Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
There's no guarantee Rutledge is here, but if the Steelers land a receiver in the first round and Rutledge is available here, I don't see them passing him up. Rutledge plays with a mean streak, giving the Steelers potentially a duo at guard, alongside Mason McCormick, that just love to beat people up.
THIRD ROUND (85th overall): Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Allar's draft stock has fizzled down the stretch, leading me to believe he'll be here for the plucking at 85th overall. The traits are hard to pass on. He's 6-5, 228 pounds, has elite arm talent and has enough mobility to make him a threat to create outside the pocket or pick up back-breaking yards with his legs. There's a lot to clean up with his footwork and joining his upper- and lower-body mechanics, but coaches don't shy away from that.
THIRD ROUND (99th overall): Markel Bell, OT, Miami (FL)
Bell is a mountain of a man at 6-9 and 346 pounds with 36 3/8-inch arms. He's an impressive athlete for a man of his size, too. If he gets a hold of a defender, he usually doesn't let go. His height can create a high number of leverage disadvantages, putting a huge emphasis on technique. He might also struggle with speedy rushers off the edge. But, Bell could still be an interesting get at this stage of the draft that helps fortify the tackle position, especially if Broderick Jones' prognosis is less than promising.
FOURTH ROUND (121st overall): Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
The Steelers hosted Davis for a pre-draft visit. He's got great size and length (6-4, 194 pounds, 33 3/8-inch arms), runs fast (4.41 40-yard dash) that could either continue on as a press-man cornerback or eventually turn into a roaming free safety. He's a bit raw, but Day 3 is when to take the toolsy players and try to develop them into something greater.
FOURTH ROUND (135th overall): Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
A Day 3 tight end is in the cards for the Steelers. The German-born Klein is new to football, but the Steelers had him in for a pre-draft visit and seem to really have interest here. Klein is limited as a pure athlete, but has serious blocking upside and catches whatever is thrown to him.
FIFTH ROUND (161st overall): Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati
Yes, I believe the Steelers will double dip at wide receiver in this class, especially if they wind up with nearly all of the picks with which they enter the draft. Caldwell, another prospect who had a pre-draft visit with the Steelers, looks like he was built in a factory for elite wide receivers. He's 6-5, 216 pounds, huge hands (9 3/4 inches), ran a blazing 4.31 40-yard dash at the Combine, where he also produced a ridiculous 42-inch vertical and 11-foot-2 broad jump. He's very, very raw and needs to grow in a lot of ways, but the tools are so salivating that if he's available here (he could be long gone), it's worth the home run swing.
SIXTH ROUND (216th overall): Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
There are questions about Perkins' ACL tear in 2024, but he's been a very productive linebacker at LSU (35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and eight forced fumbles in four seasons).
SEVENTH ROUND (224th overall): TJ Hall, CB, Iowa
Hall has smooth hips, feet quick and plays with an edge, but he's limited as an athlete and lacks long speed to run with receivers (4.59 40-yard dash). If he slides into the seventh round, this could be a great late Day 3 find.
SEVENTH ROUND (230th overall): Deven Eastern, DT, Minnesota
Eastern has great size (6-5, 315 piunds) and long 34-inch arms, but is very raw and needs to be coached up both in run blocking and in the pass rush. He played in the A gap quite a bit, but he struggles in eating space, making it difficult to project whether he's better as a nose or 3-4 defensive end.
SEVENTH ROUND (237th overall): James Thompson Jr., DT, Illinois
Thompson is built like a prototypical 3-4 defensive end and can help defend the run, but he's really behind in his ability to rush the passer. The Steelers had him in for a pre-draft visit, so there could be interest in him late in the draft.
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