Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft: Picking Every Round for Need Only

Including three compensatory picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have 10 selections in this year's draft. While teams wish they could only draft players to meet their most pressing needs, sometimes those players simply aren't on the board.

However, we can certainly put together a mock draft that has a team picking to only their needs, which is what I am doing here for the Steelers. Let's take a look at Pittsburgh's biggest needs this year and the players who could meet them at every pick.

Round 1, Pick 24: ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama

This pick assumes that offensive guard Cordy Glenn is already off the board (which I believe he will be) by the time the Steelers pick. Hightower would come in as the eventual replacement for James Farrior (who the Steelers cut this offseason), as well as Larry Foote (who will be starting in Farrior's spot).

Though Hightower might not make much of an on-field impact in his rookie year, inside linebacker is a major area of need and the Steelers won't be able to find a player of Hightower's talent when they pick near the end of the second round. 

Round 2, Pick 56: OG Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

You don't have to be the most perceptive football fan to know that one of the Pittsburgh Steelers' biggest weaknesses is along offensive line, which is why I have them taking Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler with their second-round pick.

Depth and durability are problems with practically every member of the Steelers line, so going this direction early will be important, but it won't be the only pick they use to bolster the line.

Round 3, Pick 86: NT Alameda Ta'amu, Washington

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is confident that either Steve McClendon or Ziggy Hood should be able to step up into the starting nose tackle position this year, but it wouldn't hurt for the team to use their third-round pick to grab another guy who could compete for the starter's job.

Alameda Ta'amu is one of the top nose tackles in this year's draft; if he's off the board by the Steelers' third-round pick, they could go with BYU's Hebron Fangupo instead.

Round 4, Pick 119: FS Trenton Robinson, Michigan State

Safety is a huge concern for the Steelers this year for a number of reasons.

First, they have just three dedicated safeties on the roster (four, if you count Myron Rolle, who the team has listed on the roster as a cornerback but may just be a catch-all DB this year). Second, two of those safeties—Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu—aren't quite so young anymore, with both men in their 30s. Third, the safety behind Clark, Ryan Mundy, needs improvement and would benefit from a bit of competition in camp. 

Yes, Polamalu is a strong safety while Mundy and Clark are free safeties, but when it comes to injury replacements, the Steelers often put Mundy in when Polamalu is out. The Steelers need depth at safety, period, as well as a player who could turn into a starter. Trenton Robinson is just that guy.

Round 5, Pick 159: WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa

Even if the Steelers can keep wide receiver Mike Wallace and re-sign Jerricho Cotchery, the team desperately needs depth at receiver in case of injury. Iowa's Marvin McNutt, at 6'3", has good size, decent speed and the physicality to serve as depth in 2012 and become an eventual starter.

Round 6, Pick 193: OT Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State

Again, the Steelers are after building depth on their offensive line and not picking up an eventual starter at left tackle when it comes to Oklahoma State's Levy Adcock. However, he may be able to develop into a situational fill-in player over time and could also play guard.

Youth and depth on the offensive line is a must for the Steelers this year, so their sixth-round pick is a perfect spot for them to do so. 

Round 7, Pick 231: QB Case Keenum, Houston

Right now, the Steelers' quarterback contingent consists of starter Ben Roethlisberger and two recently-signed players, Jerrod Johnson and Troy Smith. It's worth assuming that the team will bring back either Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch—or both—but if that's not their Plan A, then drafting a quarterback just might be.

The Steelers have made it clear that should they draft a quarterback this year, he wouldn't be groomed to be Roethlisberger's successor, which makes it smart for the team to ignore the position until the seventh round.

Keenum's big numbers in college are augmented by his below-average arm strength and his shotgun-only skills. He'd be worth keeping on the bench for depth purposes.

Round 7 Compensatory Picks, Picks 240, 246, 248: RB Jason Ford, Illinois; TE Josh Chichester, Louisville; K Danny Hrapmann, Southern Miss

The Steelers' three compensatory picks allow them to grab players they'd otherwise take as undrafted free agents.

They would be well served to snag a tight end this year, considering that Heath Miller has slowed a little with age and Weslye Saunders is facing an early-season suspension. I like Louisville's Josh Chichester with this pick because he's so unorthodox for the Steelers and could be a project worth developing.

The Steelers should have enough running backs on the roster, but a rookie addition couldn't hurt. Illinois' Jason Ford could be worth one of their compensatory picks. He needs to cut some weight in order to improve his speed, but his blocking abilities could be useful down the line.

Finally, Pittsburgh needs a kicker. Though generally I wouldn't recommend they draft one, with three compensatory seventh-round picks, it's not a bad move this year.

Southern Miss' Danny Hrapmann has a big leg but widely varied accuracy—that strong leg has had his coaches attempt some seriously long field goals over his college career. Reeled in a bit, he should be quite effective for the Steelers.

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