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It is time to begin considering NFL Draft and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I am unhappy to report: There aren’t any extra soccer video games to be performed. Tremendous Bowl LV was undoubtedly a let-down for 31 fan-bases within the NFL, because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran away in a sport that frankly wasn’t shut after the primary quarter.
Nonetheless the cookie crumbled, all 32 groups at the moment are formally in offseason mode.
With yearly within the league, the time interval between the Tremendous Bowl and opening night time of the next season will probably be full of storylines due to free company, the NFL Draft and the whole lot in-between. 2021’s model of that encompasses a handful of franchise quarterbacks probably on the transfer, headlined by the saga between Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans group.
Though the highlight will not precisely be on the Pittsburgh Steelers, the crew certainly enters their very own offseason stuffed with questions. We nonetheless have not heard something official on the standing of Ben Roethlisberger/Maurkice Pouncey’s potential retirements, the offensive line wants an enormous overhaul and the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Bud Dupree seem all however set to see if the grass is certainly greener on the opposite facet.
With the Senior Bowl already a reminiscence of the previous and no official NFL Mix set to happen this yr, the chance of the 2021 NFL Draft going to plan (prediction sensible) seems to be slim to none.
That makes for a enjoyable job when finishing mock drafts, similar to my first of the yr. I’d lead you down the highway of what went into the method of every decide, however much like articles you click on on for cooking/baking recipes, you are solely right here for the nitty-gritty. No person cares the way you found the substances on a crisp autumn morning with the window open.
With out additional delay, the primary of many mock drafts from myself and/or the good individuals of AllSteelers:
Spherical 1, Choose 27: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
Utilizing the good mock draft machine of Pro Football Network, I used to be capable of sim the primary spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft till it was my flip with decide quantity 24. Already pre-set on taking the most effective offensive lineman accessible, the Baltimore Ravens supplied me picks 27/58 for twenty-four/84. Drop down three spots and transfer up from a third-round decide to a second-round decide? Sure, please.
Buying and selling down or not, you will see Leatherwood mocked continuously to the Steelers purely based mostly on expertise and wish, working below the belief that Alejandro Villanueva is just not introduced again.
Will the Steelers begin each Chukwuma Okorafor and Zach Banner at deal with in 2021? Whereas that continues to be a chance, Leatherwood’s displaying at left deal with in 2020 offers hope he could be a franchise participant on the place, whereas additionally beginning and performing properly on the inside of the road throughout his time at Alabama.
Many will cling to the hope of fellow Alabama teammate Najee Harris touchdown right here. Whereas Harris is an outstanding working again, a working again on the subsequent stage can solely be pretty much as good as his offensive line is. The Steelers take Leatherwood to start out the much-needed youth motion up entrance.
Spherical 2, Choose 55: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
With Maurkice Pouncey on the verge of retirement (nothing is official fairly but, nevertheless), the Steelers now have fairly the opening in the course of their offensive line. With J.C. Hassenauer not essentially impressing in Pouncey’s absence, the 2021 NFL Draft presents the right alternative to overtake what was as soon as thought-about the league’s greatest offensive line.
Enter: Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey, one of many few outstanding left-handed middle prospects to enter the draft in current reminiscence. Additionally, he took half in probably the greatest endzone celebrations up to now.
Following a formidable Senior Bowl the place Humphrey proved himself to be the athletic, body-moving middle we noticed throughout his tenure at Oklahoma, Humphrey finds himself as one of many high inside prospects coming into the draft. Whereas Humphrey is not practically the prospect Pouncey was coming into the draft, the flexibility to maneuver defensive linemen was sorely lacking with or with out Pouncey within the lineup final season.
The Steelers discover an eventual long-term starter with the primary of two second-round picks due to the theoretical commerce with Baltimore.
Spherical 2, Choose 58: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
I will be the primary to say that I am a really massive fan of Vince Williams. I believe his management and physicality inside the inside of the protection could be very welcomed, and there is not many different who love strapping up the pads to put on black and gold like he does.
Nonetheless, the trendy period of soccer requires extraordinarily athletic linebackers to cope with a wide range of offensive points, from cellular quarterbacks to masking tight ends persistently. Whereas the Steelers have that prized possession in Devin Bush, an athletic improve subsequent to Bush could also be a chance within the draft due to Williams turning into a well-liked cap-cut.
Ought to the Steelers take that route, Alabama’s Dylan Moses gives a rangy presence at inside linebacker, with closing velocity to trace down practically any ball-carrier. Whereas his pass-coverage expertise can use some work, there is not any doubting the athletic blueprint to refine these expertise exist inside Moses.
Moses, who remains to be totally recovering from a torn ACL in 2019, was trying to be on observe to change into a first-round decide previous to his damage. Whereas questions nonetheless encompass Moses about returning to his true type pre-injury, Moses may change into the steal of the draft within the later components of the second-round, whereas additionally solidifying Pittsburgh’s inside linebacker corps for the foreseeable future.
Spherical 4, Choose 122: Chuba Hubbard, RB, OK State
A probable future with out the likes of James Conner carrying the ball in Pittsburgh, the Steelers are a well-liked vacation spot for just about any working again accessible. May the Steelers draft a working again very early within the 2021 NFL Draft? Completely.
Nonetheless, I am a sucker for positional worth, and I additionally maintain the assumption that Pittsburgh may discover a strong ball-carrier if they only waited a spherical or two. Because it seems, home-run hitter Chuba Hubbard was accessible within the fourth spherical, and I simply could not cross up on the chance to take a working again with large velocity and eager imaginative and prescient.
With Benny Snell’s energy and Anthony McFarland’s skills within the open discipline, Hubbard suits the mildew as a again that sort-of suits between the 2 present Steelers’ working backs.
There is no doubting Pittsburgh must run the ball higher heading into 2021. With two new items added to the offensive line, Hubbard’s acceleration and skill to blow previous defenders can be a much-welcomed sight in black and gold.
Spherical 6, Choose 194: Tamorrion Terry, WR, Florida State
With the potential departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster in free company, the Steelers will look so as to add one other vast receiver to the depth chart. The excellent news? Due to a proficient receiving corps of Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and James Washington, the necessity to draft a pass-catcher can anticipate different positions to be addressed first.
Though the Steelers might not wait till the sixth spherical to draft a receiver, Florida State’s Tamorrion Terry gives an attention-grabbing prospect for the Steelers to develop. Terry proved himself to be a priceless deep menace for the Seminoles, showcasing the flexibility to blow previous cornerbacks and take the highest off the protection.
Terry’s construct (6-4, 203 lbs) additionally gives Pittsburgh with one other prolonged pass-catcher, with room to place muscle on and develop right into a stellar choice to play reverse of Claypool on the boundary.
There is no doubting Pittsburgh’s lack of huge performs and lack of ability to push the ball downfield damage the offense final season. Terry’s means to get open deep could possibly be a possible elixir for that downside.
Spherical 7, Choose 212: Chris Rumph II, EDGE, Duke
You’ll be able to at all times use extra depth when dashing the passer.
The Steelers discovered that out the laborious method in 2020 after Bud Dupree went down for the season, biking by way of unknown depths of the depth chart to place our bodies on the sector in essential video games down the stretch.
Whereas I am an enormous believer in Alex Highsmith and the prospects of him changing Dupree subsequent yr, it is pretty apparent the crew wants succesful our bodies behind Highsmith and T.J. Watt.
You are not going to search out a number of diamonds within the tough right here within the seventh-round, but Rumph’s profession at Duke displayed some promise in attending to the quarterback. What Rumph lacks in measurement, he makes up for in effort. Maybe incomes a spot by way of particular groups and studying below probably the greatest edge rushers within the league can be a strong profession for a seventh-round decide.
Spherical 7, Choose 221: Darren Corridor, CB, San Diego State
Just like the final decide, that is purely based mostly on needing depth on the place.
When cornerback Joe Haden was injured late within the season, Pittsburgh’s lack of depth on the boundaries reared its ugly head. Justin Layne seemed incapable of being on an NFL discipline, whereas James Pierre’s inexperience additionally confirmed within the few snaps he took.
Whereas Cam Sutton is a strong choice to man the boundary when not taking part in within the slot, the Steelers nonetheless want succesful our bodies within the defensive again’s room.
SDSU’s Darren Corridor is unlikely to emerge as the subsequent Jalen Ramsey. Nonetheless, I’m a fan of his anticipation in studying routes. Pittsburgh seemingly can’t draft helpful defensive backs, so I would a lot relatively them take a stab at one within the final spherical of the draft relatively than waste a decide earlier (that is not nice logic, I do know).
In actuality, cornerback is not an enormous place of want coming into the draft, but the Steelers do should be weary of how ugly issues may get if the damage bug strikes once more. Corridor provides a little bit of potential with low draw back if he does not pan out.
Donnie Druin is a Workers Author with AllSteelers. Observe Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin, and AllSteelers @si_steelers.
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