After tanking a promising season, the Pittsburgh Steelers look to have one last shot at a Super Bowl. Up against the cap, Pittsburgh needs to strike on multiple picks to fill enormous voids. They simply cannot afford to miss on any picks in this draft. With needing to build a run game, an offensive line, and patch up the secondary, all eyes point to the Steelers draft philosophy for the 2021 NFL Draft. Let’s see how the draft unfolded.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 24: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
Left tackle is beyond a need, but none of the available tackles fit the Steelers mold: above 320 lbs. Most of the tackles are above 330 lbs, but Alejandro Villanueva was 320. What was missing last year was a run game. Ben Roethlisberger needs to be more hands-off, so adding a three-down back is a necessity. Harris fits the role perfectly: one main running back that takes over 20 carries per game. As much as taking a running back in the first round is frowned upon, desperation forces this hand.
Round 2, Pick 55: Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama
With Maurkice Pouncey retiring, the Steelers desperately need a commander of the offensive line. Dickerson not only has an amazing IQ, but he also has a great personality. With the constant drama in Pittsburgh, it would be a breath of fresh air to get a team player. There is no longer a need for divas. Dickerson also follows a Steelers ground and pound scheme well. Roethlisberger will absolutely love this pick.
For more on Dickerson, check out our scouting report on him here.
Round 3, Pick 87: Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Losing Villanueva hurts, but Chukwuma Okorafor and Zach Banner may not be worth starting during a Super Bowl run. Brown can play either tackle spot, and he is close to the weight goal for a Steelers tackle at 311 lbs with room to fill out. After testing through the roof on his pro day, Brown will be a steal at this point in the draft. Not only can he start day one, but he has the experience to be comfortable playing immediately. Worst case scenario: Brown can be an amazing swing tackle that will fill in for injuries.
Round 4, Pick 128: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
Losing Steven Nelson hurts this secondary badly. With two starting-caliber cornerbacks on the roster past 2022, getting depth is beyond necessary. Mukuamu is a complete project, but his athletic traits are easily worth drafting at this point. He suffered heavily in man coverage schemes, but his future may be best benefited by a zone-heavy scheme. In short, Mukuamu may be better than he was at South Carolina in the NFL. This may be a steal in the long run.
Round 4, Pick 140: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
Little has not played a snap in around two years. He is far from ready to play day one, but the pro day numbers show that Little is in shape to be ready to. The Stanford product has first-round potential, but not playing for so long may push him down the draft board. The Steelers may need to push Little into action early, but the potential is too good to pass up on. He may be the future at left tackle for the next 10 years.
Round 6, Pick 216: Paris Ford, SAF, Pittsburgh
Terrell Edmunds is far from perfect. At this point in the draft, the Steelers need to address both need and value. Safety is not a direct need, but all championship-worthy teams have great depth. Ford was supposed to be an early third-round pick before his atrocious 4.9-second 40 time. His heavy-hitting play style fits perfectly with the identity of the Steelers. If he can play faster than his time suggests, this can be an amazing asset for the black and gold.
Round 7, Pick 245: Damar Hamlin, SAF, Pittsburgh
It is no secret that the Steelers use their slot cornerbacks a lot. Losing Mike Hilton to the Bengals really hurts, but having Cameron Sutton back certainly helps. Again, depth is needed to win a championship. The Steelers lost one of their starting slot cornerbacks, and now they have Hilton’s replacement. Hamlin is an amazing player, especially for the value. He can cover slot wide receivers with elite proficiency. Amari Rodgers even had troubles with his coverage and run support. Hamlin may be the darkhorse gem of the class.
Round 7, Pick 254: Marco Wilson, CB, Florida
It is hard to believe that Wilson will be here after testing sub 4.4 in his 40-yard dash, but he was in this simulation. Losing Florida the game versus LSU will stick in everyone’s mind. He threw the shoe of an offensive player after a fourth-down stop. This eventually led to LSU getting in a position to kick a field goal for the win. Few can doubt the potential talent, though. Wilson will be an excellent developmental player and has the potential to be a rotational starter. The Steelers aced this draft.
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