Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft Roundup

The start of the 2015 NFL draft on Thursday officially marks the beginning of the end of mock-draft season for the year. So that means last-minute predictions are rolling out on a near-daily basis from some of the NFL's leading draft experts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers pick 22nd in Round 1 this year and could go in a number of directions, including cornerback, safety and outside linebacker. While those three positions make up their biggest needs, the Steelers could also simply draft the best player available, someone who may play another position altogether.

So who do the experts have going to the Steelers in Round 1 now that the draft is right around the corner? Here is a roundup of five different recent mock drafts.  

ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay

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ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay published a three-round, collaborative mock draft on Friday, alternating picks team by team. The Steelers' pick fell to Kiper.

Round 1, Pick 22: CB Byron Jones, Connecticut

Kiper selects Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones because he not only fits a need but is also versatile. Kiper explains his pick: "We're looking pretty thin in the secondary, and I get maybe the most versatile cornerback in the draft, a kid who can help in the slot or at safety early on if needed. And as we all know, he's an absolute stud as an athlete."

Kiper is right about the latter part—Jones turned heads at the scouting combine with a record-setting broad jump and impressive performances in all drills. He also ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Furthermore, with experience playing both safety and cornerback in college, Jones could potentially step in at either safety position (should the Steelers move Mike Mitchell to strong safety) and resume cornerback work in a later year.

Jones totaled 222 combined tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 21 passes defensed in college, with two years spent at safety and two at cornerback. He offers some intriguing versatility for the Steelers, who need a lot of help in the secondary this year.

Still, Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson and LSU corner Jalen Collins were still on the board when the Steelers made their Round 1 pick in ESPN's mock. One of them would be better immediate fits in Pittsburgh than Jones, especially as a first-round pick.

Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier

Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier released his latest Round 1 mock draft Monday morning and is trying to "Jedi mind trick" the Steelers into taking a defensive back in the round, something they haven't done since selecting recently retired safety Troy Polamalu in 2003.

Round 1, Pick 22: S Landon Collins, Alabama

Tanier has the Steelers selecting a replacement for Polamalu in Round 1 this year, which is fitting given—as noted above—Polamalu marked the last time Pittsburgh took a defensive pick that early. Tanier also sees a lot of Polamalu in Collins: 

"

Collins has the most Polamalu-like attributes of any defensive back of the last few draft classes. He is smart and instinctive in coverage, deadly when attacking the line of scrimmage, and in fine Nick Saban Serenity Prayer fashion, he has the wisdom to know when to do which. There will never be another Polamalu, but the Steelers can get a guy who does similar things, then pick from among the many good-not-great cornerback prospects hanging around the second and third rounds.

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Collins has a three-year total of 190 combined tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Tanier continues his assessment to further describe that Collins' usage at Alabama could be compelling to the Steelers: 

"

Chop off the part where Collins creeps down from deep safety to more of an outside linebacker position before the snap, and suddenly Collins looks like an undersized outside linebacker. The Steelers love to draft undersized outside linebackers! They select Collins and—surprise!—he’s really the safety they desperately need.

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It makes sense for the Steelers to select Collins in Round 1 if he's still on the board. But that also may require Collins to be the best player still available, given that's often how the Steelers address the first round. Nevertheless, it seems like a good move for the Steelers to make, based on Tanier's explanation.

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler

CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft Friday. He too has the Steelers going with a defensive back in Round 1.

Round 1, Pick 22: CB Marcus Peters, Washington

Washington's Marcus Peters is a boom-or-bust prospect, but that "boom" contains plenty of upside—enough that he may prove to be the draft's most talented cornerback. The issue is whether he can get his temper in check. That temper led to clashes with Washington's coaching staff and resulted in him being kicked off the team in 2014.

Still, Brugler thinks Peters is worth the risk for the Steelers: "The Steelers need a pass-rusher, but with the top names off the board the focus shifts to another need on defense: cornerback. Peters has his baggage, but the talent is among the best in this class."

Brugler's colleague Rob Rang writes in his scouting report on Peters that his "physicality and athleticism regularly stood out against top competition" and that "among his best attributes is recognition, as Peters plays the receiver very well, turning back toward the ball as the wideout does and frequently knocking the ball away or intercepting it."

Rang compares Peters to the Denver Broncos' Aqib Talib: "Just as Talib did when coming out of Kansas, Peters comes with off-field concerns, but there is no questioning either cornerback's length, aggression and ball skills." 

Peters totaled 190 combined tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 13 passes defensed during his collegiate career. There's no question that his talent would help out the Steelers secondary, but Pittsburgh will have to be convinced that he's not going to lash out in the NFL as he did in college.

NFL Network's Charley Casserly

The NFL Network's Charley Casserly released his latest mock draft Monday morning. He also chose a defensive back with the Steelers' Round 1 pick. There is a pattern developing here, it appears.

Round 1, Pick 22: CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest

Casserly gives a succinct explanation for why he has the Steelers taking Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson at 22nd overall: "The Steelers need a cornerback and outside linebacker. Johnson is the highest-rated player in that position group. Eli Harold is a sleeper here."

It should be noted that Casserly is the only expert on this list who actually names an outside linebacker—Harold—whom the Steelers could also consider with this pick.

Johnson totaled 189 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 38 passes defensed in his four years at Wake Forest. Three of those years were spent as a starter. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says that Johnson is "very natural in man coverage," "disruptive in press coverage" and "crowds wideouts on perimeter and constricts target area for deep boundary throws." He also "fights to disengage and support against the run" and is "willing to drop shoulder and lay lumber as zone defender."

Zierlein notes that "while he lacks desired weight at the position, his cover skills, athleticism and competitiveness give him a shot to come in and start right away." That latter part should be of the greatest interest to the Steelers, who would love nothing more than to find a rookie-year starter at the crucial cornerback position this year. Picking Johnson in Round 1 would be a smart use of their pick.

Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar

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We're five-for-five for experts predicting that the Steelers will address their secondary in Round 1. Up next is Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar, who has Pittsburgh picking a cornerback at No. 22.

Round 1, Pick 22: CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest

Like Casserly, Farrar has the Steelers taking Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson in Round 1. Noting that "so much has changed in Pittsburgh's defense this offseason," Farrar adds "the need is for a top-line cornerback to put the Steelers' defensive efforts forward." 

Farrar continues: "Johnson isn't the most well-known of the cornerbacks in this draft class, but he started 41 games for the Demon Deacons and splits his time very effectively between coverage and run-stopping." Johnson certainly has the tools to be a do-it-all cornerback for the Steelers, giving them an upgrade in the secondary they so desperately need.

It's just a matter of the Steelers breaking a decade-plus pattern of avoiding defensive back in Round 1. Given Johnson's strengths and versatility, he may just convince them to buck tradition and select him—granted, of course, that he's still on the board when they make their pick.