If you haven’t made your way over to The Draft Network and tried out their mock draft simulator, you really need to get there. It’s far from perfect but their massive database of players makes it very easy to simulate a seven-round mock draft for your favorite time.
I actually decided to use their simulator five different times, each time picking a different position of need in the first round and watched how things unfolded because of that decision. The Steelers find themselves in a position where they need to hit big with their second-round pick since they do not have a first. Depending on how the second round played out, the rest of the draft took some crazy turns.
Check out our five simulations and decide which scenario you would be happiest with.
In the first scenario, we went with former Ohio State running back J.K. Robbins. This was the only one of the five where Robbins was on the board and just represented too much value to pass up. The draft stayed strong with defensive tackle Leki Totu and tight end Josiah Beguara. Things trail off fast when Miami’s Jonathan Garvin is the best edge rusher left. If the Steelers can’t keep Bud Dupree, this draft would put a lot of pressure on Ola Adeniyi to replace Dupree.
This time around we get edge rusher out of the way with the first pick. Boise State’s Curtis Weaver is a strong technical pass rusher with a ton of upside. But he was not the highest-paid player on the board. Adding LSU’s Damien Lewis would also be a great replacement for Ramon Foster if the Steelers release him.
Speaking of salary cap cuts, if the Steelers release Vance McDonald, Harrison Bryant is a nice replacement. But I’m far from sold on running back La’Mical Perine and quarterback Nate Stanley. However, they were the highest-rated guys at positions of need at the time of each pick.
This time around we go for a tight end in the second round with Dayton star Adam Trautman. He’s a modern receiving tight end who could help the Steelers right away. The same can be said for edge rusher Alton Robinson and running back Antonio Gibson. Both guys are NFL ready with well-rounded games at their respective positions.
As for the defensive line and offensive line, it’s more about project players with upside with Yasir Durant and Khalil Davis.
If we are talking about favorites, this scenario comes in second for me. The offense needs playmakers and wide receiver Jalen Reagor and tight end Albert Okuwegbunam fit the bill. I figured after going all offense upfront would leave the cupboards bare on defense.
But Nick Coe is a very good edge rushing prospect and Tyler Clark is underrated as a 3-4 swing defensive lineman. And in a league where you never know where the next great running back will come from, Joshua Kelly in the seventh round is an easy risk to take.
Here is my favorite of all the simulations I ran. I am a huge fan of former Ohio State offensive lineman Jonah Jackson. He is a mauler who reminds more than a little of David DeCastro. Easily one of my favorite guys in the draft. Same for Charlotte edge rusher Alex Highsmith. This was the only simulation where he was on the board in the third round and I wasn’t going to pass him up.
But it doesn’t end there. Landing hybrid wide receiver/tight end Chase Claypool and running back A.J. Dillon are huge steals later in the draft. This draft doesn’t get the Steelers any help on the defensive line but I’m ok taking a shot on FIU quarterback James Morgan at the end of the draft.
