The Pittsburgh Steelers are in an interesting position in the upcoming NFL draft. Thanks to the trade that sent wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh has two picks in the third round. The Steelers have had excellent luck in the third round with guys like Mason Rudolph, James Conner and Javon Hargrave.
If the Steelers want to win the 2019 NFL draft and get the team back on track, it might happen in the third round. Here are our top four targets for the round at the team’s top positions of need.
Amani Hooker | Defensive back | Iowa
I do not understand why there isn’t more hype surrounding former Iowa defensive back Amani Hooker. There isn’t a better prospect in this draft for the big nickel sets in the NFL. He’s able to work seamlessly between cornerback and safety and his high football IQ allows him to work well in complex schemes.
Miles Boykin | Wide receiver | Notre Dame
If former Notre Dame star Miles Boykin had played in an offense like Oklahoma, we would probably be talking about him in the same breath as the top wide receivers in the draft. Boykin has an elite skill set and underrated athleticism but the fact he struggled with underuse and average quarterback play and this muddies his film.
Oshane Ximines | Edge rusher | Old Dominion
The talent at edge rusher in this draft class takes a nosedive after the second round but Pittsburgh should still have a chance to get a solid developmental player. The prospect with the most upside in this next tier of edge guys is Oshane Ximines. He’s been highly productive in college and shows more athleticism on the field than the stopwatch shows. He probably isn’t ready to contribute in 2019 but does have a solid ceiling.
Vosean Joseph | Linebacker | Florida
With the addition of Mark Barron, Pittsburgh doesn’t need to reach for an inside linebacker in the draft. With Barron’s athleticism, simply getting an upgraded version of Jon Bostic is a win. Former Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph is an interesting prospect. When he’s good he’s great but his biggest shortcoming is inconsistency. If he can put it all together he has a chance to be much better than linebackers taken ahead of him.
