Who Are the Experts Predicting to Steelers in the First Round of the Draft?

It's NFL draft season, which means one thing—It's also NFL mock draft season. Experts and non-experts alike all have their own individual takes on who teams will be selecting in all seven rounds.

More prevalent, especially among draft experts, is the first-round mock draft, which only serves to predict who teams will take with their all-important first picks this year. Here are five expert opinions on which player the Pittsburgh Steelers will take with the 22nd-overall pick this year.

Dane Brugler, CBS Sports

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The Expert: Dane Brugler, CBS Sports

The Pick: DE/OLB Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler has taken note of the Steelers' need at edge-rusher, and has the team taking Kentucky's Alvin "Bud" Dupree with the 22nd-overall pick.

Dupree, who totaled 274 combined career tackles, 37 tackles for a loss and 23.5 sacks—including 74 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks in 2014—certainly meets the Steelers' need at outside linebacker, a position that totals only three players on their current roster.

Brugler's colleague, Rob Rang, says Dupree is a "[p]roductive pass rusher whose success stems from his physical gifts and technique," including "long arms, a quick burst, the flexibility to turn the corner and an explosive burst to close when the ballcarrier is near." 

However, Rang says Dupree, "[l]acks functional football strength," and notes, "[d]espite adding 15 pounds of muscle to his frame he must get stronger." Given that the Steelers already have one edge-rusher, Jarvis Jones, who struggles to gain weight and strength, they do not need a second one in their rotation this year.

While Brugler is not off base that the Steelers need pass-rushing help and could seek it out in Round 1, there should be better players available who can contribute as rookies without having to force them into the weight room.

NFL Network's Brian Baldinger

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The Expert: NFL Network's Brian Baldinger

The Pick: SS Landon Collins, Alabama

The NFL Network's Brian Baldinger has the Steelers selecting Alabama strong safety Landon Collins in Round 1, saying, "The one marquee safety in this draft helps new defensive coordinator Kevin Butler tighten up the back end of this once-proud defense."

Collins totaled 190 carrier combined tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss and five interceptions. He had 103 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and three interceptions in 2014. 

Baldinger is not wrong—Collins is the best safety in this year's draft class. And Collins could fill in for either Troy Polamalu at strong safety or Mike Mitchell at free safety, should he be moved to Polamalu's old position this year. And if Collins is still on the board when the Steelers pick at 22, it seems likely they will select him, as he won't just fit a need but also be the best player still available.

But the Steelers are not the only safety-needy team in this year's draft, and the position is thin. If he's there, they take him, but it does not seem likely he falls that far.

ESPN's Mel Kiper

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The Expert: ESPN's Mel Kiper

The Pick: SS Landon Collins, Alabama

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper is in agreement with Baldinger: The Steelers will select Alabama strong safety Landon Collins in Round 1. Kiper says, "Even if the Steelers decide Troy Polamalu is fine to come back for another year, they won't expect him to play every down, and Collins would not only help right away but serve as a logical replacement," adding, "He's a highly versatile safety who can make plays at the line of scrimmage and won't look bad in coverage."

It appears a trend is forming, between Baldinger's and Kiper's prediction. However, the concern that Collins won't last until 22nd-overall still stands. It is true, as Kiper says, that "getting the top safety in the draft at No. 22 would be a solid value," but that value may not be available once the Steelers are on the clock.

ESPN's Todd McShay

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The Expert: ESPN's Todd McShay

The Pick: DL Arik Armstead, Oregon

ESPN's Todd McShay offers a more offbeat prediction for the Steelers in Round 1—Oregon defensive lineman Arik Armstead. Though McShay acknowledges the Steelers' need for pass-rushers and cornerbacks this year, he says, "Armstead is just a good value pick at this point."

McShay considers Armstead underrated, noting he's seventh-overall on his big board, "but the sense I get is he could slip to the second half of the first round." Armstead totaled 87 combined tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks in his collegiate career, including 46 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks in 2014.

McShay does note there are some drawbacks to Armstead: "[H]is lack of production as a pass-rusher is something of a concern, even though he has all the tools to be a very good one," and that he's "also heard some question the consistency of his motor and toughness." But McShay praises Armstead's "excellent length, power and violent hands."

Given the Steelers' other needs on defense, they would only select Armstead if they considered him the best player on their board. With Armstead only a marginal pass-rusher and with some questions about his consistency, it seems they would more than likely pass on Armstead for another player in Round 1.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller

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The Expert: Bleacher Report's Matt Miller

The Pick: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State

Though some draft experts see Michigan State's Trae Waynes as the class' best cornerback, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller says "he's a late first-rounder and a great fit and value for the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No. 22."

Waynes totaled 101 career combined tackles, four tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and 13 passes defensed. In 2014, he had 46 tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, three interceptions and eight passes defensed. 

Miller says, "Waynes can be a rookie starter given his length and speed, but he'll be learning on the job as he improves his technique from the handsy, physical style played at Michigan State," and "[h]is upside is huge, and he fills a major need in Pittsburgh." Both are true.

Waynes is a bit grabby in his technique, but it is a bad habit that can be coached out of him. And with the prospects at cornerback looking bleak—without Waynes, or an equivalently talented cornerback, Cortez Allen is projected to start alongside William Gay—Waynes certainly meets one of the Steelers' most glaring defensive needs this year.