Updated Steelers Mock Draft: Day 3 Predictions

The first two days of the 2015 NFL draft have yielded three players for the Pittsburgh Steelers who could come in as rookies and be productive, the reason being in two of those picks, Pittsburgh opted to simply draft the best players available. Many probably didn’t look at Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates as a selection of need, but he was way too talented to pass up.

However, Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree married the concepts of need and the best player available almost perfectly in the first round. Only Mississippi cornerback Senquez Golson could be viewed as a need selection taken with better prospects on the board.

Regardless of that, the approach the Steelers have taken over the first two days leads one to believe that the third day will be no less exciting. The Steelers have five picks on the final day, so let’s do one final updated projection to see how Pittsburgh will finish things out.

Any player data courtesy of the NFL draft section of NFL.com.

Fourth Round

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The Pick: Derron Smith, S Fresno State

The one glaring need on this team that remains unfilled is free safety. After passing on several on the first two days, the Steelers lead off here with Fresno State safety Derron Smith. His game is precisely what the NFL is looking for in a single-high safety. He is a rangy athlete with solid instincts and impressive ball skills.

The one knock on Smith is that he lacks ideal height (5’10”), but that isn’t a huge concern for the Steelers. After all, they spent a fourth-round pick on safety Shamarko Thomas in 2013, and he only checks in at 5’9”. If the goal is to move Mike Mitchell or Thomas to strong safety, Smith would make that transition much easier.

Fifth Round

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The Pick: Kyle Emanuel, LB North Dakota State

No matter how great the pick of Dupree was in the first round, adding another linebacker at this point in the draft would be prudent. Even if we assume that Dupree is the starter on the left, the future is far less certain on the other side. And the types of players the Steelers want here would also benefit special teams in a positive way.

The Steelers appear to have shown some interest in North Dakota State linebacker Kyle Emanuel. Emanuel is a high-motor guy with tremendous energy and intensity. While his meaurables aren’t elite and the level of competition is a concern, all of the physical tools make up for it. Emanuel is the kind of kid who responds well to coaching, and Pittsburgh has some great ones.

Sixth Round

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The Pick: Mike Davis, RB South Carolina

With the Steelers' first sixth-round pick, they do their best to bolster their depth at running back. Even with DeAngelo Williams under contract, there is nothing definite going forward for him. Even this year, if star running back Le’Veon Bell were to get hurt again, Williams cannot carry the load. And depth is quite questionable.

So, to ensure that things go a bit easier, Pittsburgh adds South Carolina running back Mike Davis. Davis is a low-slung, powerful back with surprising quickness. In addition, Davis is a true three-down running back with very good receiving and pass-blocking skills. Not only would he be able to spell Bell in situational football, he could carry the load of this rushing offense in a pinch with his all-around game.

Sixth Round

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The Pick: Tyrus Thompson, OT Oklahoma

This late in the draft, there is no point in holding back. These are players that are a long shot to make a roster, so why not take a player from a big program with tremendous experience and a strong pedigree? If a player has a great resume on film, coaches can use that and build an NFL starter off of those skills, even if they lack athleticism.

In this case, Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyrus Thompson is the pick. When he is hitting on all cylinders, his game is as good as any in the draft. Thompson is massive (6’5”, 324 pounds), with a huge wingspan. Thompson is a much better pass protector than he is a road grader in the run game. However, this projects him as nice depth at both guard and tackle. 

Seventh Round

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The Pick: Tyeler Davison, DT Fresno State

Wrapping up the draft, the Steelers go with a second Fresno State player. If the Steelers could snatch up a nose tackle this late in the draft, it would be too tempting to pass up. Even with the players currently on the roster, there isn’t a guy with the size/strength combination needed to really make that 3-4 defense hum.

Defensive tackle Tyeler Davison is a bowling ball with muscles. He possesses a powerful, muscular build and looks like he can throw the gym around. And when you watch him play you realize that he might be, in fact, able to. Davison’s game is predicated on power, and he's the kind of player that takes four hands to block at times. This is exactly the type of physical presence this defensive line has been missing.