Steelers Pre-Senior Bowl 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

Sizzling off an AFC North division title, the Steelers are in a precarious place heading into the NFL Draft. With the Browns handing them a troublesome loss within the Wild Card Spherical, the Steelers’ Tremendous Bowl window is closing. They’ve a number of very important free brokers that may go away and solely a lot cap house to work with this offseason. On this Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, I’ll attempt to navigate the muddy waters they’ll enter this offseason.

Ben Roethlisberger appears to be on his final legs, albeit he might go for yet one more run at all of it. Key free brokers together with Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Alejandro Villanueva, Cameron Sutton, James Conner, Tyson Alualu, and extra might hit the market, and the holes on this staff could possibly be plentiful.

Nonetheless, with information that Roethlisberger is prone to return along with the elevation of quarterbacks coach Matt Canada to offensive coordinator, there are clear draft indicators and matches. On this class, they attempt to construct round a designed nucleus.

Steelers Pre-Senior Bowl 7-Spherical 2021 NFL Mock Draft

• Spherical 1, Choose 24: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
• Spherical 2, Choose 55: Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma
• Spherical 3, Choose 87: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
• Spherical 4, Choose 118: Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State
• Spherical 4, Comp Choose: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
• Spherical 6, Choose 188: William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor
• Spherical 6, Comp Choose: Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame
• Spherical 7, Choose 209: Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Inexperienced
• Spherical 7, Choose 218: Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State

Steelers 2021 NFL Mock Draft pick-by-pick evaluation

Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

A Senior Bowl invitee, Alex Leatherwood is a reputation that may ring acquainted to plenty of individuals. His hype practice is one which has been constructing over the previous couple of years now.

For the Steelers, this decide makes just a little an excessive amount of sense. The aforementioned Villanueva and Matt Feiler are each prone to go away by way of free company this offseason. But, even with that in thoughts, the Steelers’ weak level this season was their offensive line. Whereas go safety did a wonderful job of holding up, the Steelers have been the worst run-blocking unit within the league.

Associated | Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama – NFL Draft Player Profile

Leatherwood instantly comes aboard and helps rectify that problem. Furthermore, because it pertains to the run-blocking problem, Leatherwood is massive, highly effective, and aggressive. Thus, combining these three traits creates a prospect that may transfer guys.

Leatherwood is polished and a real plug-and-play at left deal with on day one. Nonetheless, he comes with the great added luxurious of positional flexibility, as he additionally has ample expertise at guard. On this 7-round Steelers Mock Draft, they pull the set off on Leatherwood.

Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

The give attention to the offensive line and operating sport, generally, needs to be clear this offseason. Roethlisberger isn’t the quarterback he as soon as was and might not carry a staff on his again. The environment round him should enhance to assist facilitate his finest self. Together with his finest pal and longtime middle Maurkice Pouncey doubtlessly calling it a profession, the Steelers have a gaping gap they have to fill.

As such, enter Creed Humphrey. Humphrey is a prospect that may baffle some followers. Pay attention, he’s not going to provide the flashy pancakes that find yourself on spotlight reels. Nonetheless, what Humphrey brings to the desk is stability. He’s stout, robust, sensible, and exact in every thing he does. Primarily, Humphrey is a commander and glorious communicator.

In that method, he’s already considerably a veteran presence. He is probably not the perfect athlete, however it’s not a detriment both. Humphrey is a simple decide on this 7-round Steelers 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

I’m certain this one goes to show some heads given the Steelers’ wants. Am I actually going to pick out one other receiver on Day 2?

The reply is sure. On this 7-round Steelers Mock Draft, they leap on a large receiver for 2 causes. One, Smith-Schuster may stroll this offseason. If that occurs, it leaves a clunky alignment of receivers left within the room. Second, this staff wants extra pace and YAC capacity within the room.

Associated | Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson – NFL Draft Player Profile

These traits are exactly what Amari Rodgers brings to the desk. A real slot receiver, Rodgers can step into Smith-Schuster’s function however give it a twist. As a substitute of an enormous slot function, which Chase Claypool can fill when requested, Rodgers provides one other YAC menace to enrich Diontae Johnson. Rodgers jogs my memory of Deebo Samuel. The match with Canada’s offense and the jet sweeps is a glove-like match. Rodgers can are available and add one other dimension to the Steelers’ offense round Roethlisberger.

Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State

The operating again decide is lastly right here! The Steelers might take one sooner than this, however the worth on different choices was an excessive amount of to go on. Thus, it’s best to make do with what’s on the Steelers’ disposal. With an uninspiring operating again room probably dropping James Conner on prime of it, they’ve to choose a operating again in some unspecified time in the future on this draft. Kylin Hill could be that man.

Truthfully, the factor that intrigues me a lot about Hill is how he makes hen salad out of hen crap so typically. Hill is bricked up and shredded. He invitations contacts and punishes defenders within the gap. Nonetheless, one other essential factor is Hill makes an affect within the receiving sport. Hill might not step in and be a lead again instantly, however he very nicely may emerge as that man by the tip of the yr.

Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

The Steelers’ cornerback room is stable on paper getting into this Steelers 7-round Mock Draft. Nonetheless, Mike Hilton and Sutton are free brokers this yr. Consequently, they possible lose a type of guys, and Joe Haden isn’t getting any youthful. James Pierre’s promise and the potential of Justin Layne looms massive, however you may by no means have sufficient high quality cowl corners on a staff.

Ambry Thomas was an choose out this season that ought to curiosity the Steelers. He can actually stand up there and play imply in press protection. That seems to be the place Thomas is most snug.

Fortunately, he doesn’t get misplaced in zone protection. There’s a really feel for route mixtures inside Thomas. Furthermore, Thomas has the soccer IQ and quickness to get to the place he desires to go and make a play on the ball. Add in his ball expertise, and Thomas is a stable fourth-round cornerback possibility.

William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor

With the possible departure of Bud Dupree, the Steelers might want to add somebody to their edge depth. Alex Highsmith is a wonderful starter, however they can’t have him and T.J. Watt on the sector for 95 % of the snaps. Thus, William Bradley-King is sensible for the Steelers on this Steelers 7-round Mock Draft.

Associated | William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor – NFL Draft Player Profile

Bradley-King matches what the Steelers like of their edge guys. He’s twitched-up, lengthy, and performs violently. Extra importantly, Bradley-King has an array of strikes that he can deploy. Bradley-King is heavy-handed and packs a punch. Due to this fact, he can win with a pace rush and regular dip-rip or along with his arms. The club-rip transfer he has is a superb one in his arsenal. Bradley-King goes earlier in a typical edge class, however a deep edge class helps the Steelers get a man like him right here.

Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame

Following the identical theme of attacking the offensive line, Aaron Banks is a real and blue model to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A people-mover and mauler, Banks has the mindset that made followers fall in love with Kevin Dotson in 2020.

Moreover, he’s the man that may put opposing defensive lineman proper into the filth. Banks is simply an all-around good soccer participant who can outplay his draft place. On this Steelers 7-round NFL Mock Draft, Banks provides extra guard depth behind Dotson and David DeCastro.

Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Inexperienced

Within the seventh spherical, you’re on the lookout for a man with upside. For instance, the Steelers particularly want that of their tight finish room. With certainly one of Vance McDonald or Eric Ebron possible gone, the Steelers want to speculate on this room to some extent. It could possibly undoubtedly come sooner than this, however they wait till later on this draft, given how the board falls.

And hey, Quintin Morris is a pleasant comfort prize. Primarily, Morris is all upside. A former basketball participant, Morris has reputable pace, and as an F-receiver or perhaps a flex-Y, Morris can slot in fairly properly to the Steelers’ offense. Above the rim, Morris is constant, because of his basketball expertise. At the same time as a blocker, Morris has grown along with his depth and hand utilization. On this Steelers 7-round Mock Draft, they guess on Morris’ continued enchancment and traits.

Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State

The Steelers’ linebacker depth wore skinny this season. Furthermore, they’ll possible lose Avery Williamson to free company. This can be a place they want some depth at regardless of the flashes by Marcus Allen and Robert Spillane.

Thus, Justin Hilliard is an answer to assist ease these issues a bit. From a pure affect standpoint, Hilliard is a wonderful tackler and can contribute on particular groups. You’ll be able to by no means have sufficient stable contributors on particular groups.

Extra importantly, Hilliard has burst downhill to make performs within the backfield to shoot gaps. Moreover, he exhibits some sideline-to-sideline vary. Hilliard performs the sport arduous and has traits to go together with it. Accordingly, the Steelers will love him.