Pittsburgh Steelers Final 7-Round Mock Draft
After months of discussion, arguments, speculation and rumors, it's finally time—the 2017 NFL draft starts with Round 1 picks announced on Thursday night. And thus begins the Pittsburgh Steelers' latest period of talent acquisition, a handful of days that could help influence their win-loss records for years to come.
The Steelers have eight picks this year, clear roster needs and a draft full of talented young players from whom to choose. Anything and everything is possible—that's the appeal of this time of year in the NFL—but trying to predict how it all shakes out is a hallmark of the pre-draft process.
So, here we are, putting together the final seven-round Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft of the year. What could they do with their eight selections in 2017? Read on to find out.
Round 1, Pick 30
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Round 1, Pick 30: LB T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
The Steelers' first-round pick this year, at least where this mock draft is concerned, is about potential and not pedigree.
Yes, Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt is the younger brother of the Houston Texans' star J.J., but that's not why the pre-draft buzz has been so loud. Rather, it's because T.J. is an athletic freak who has the ability to be the same same game-changing pass-rusher as his elder sibling, though the development may take a shade longer.
Watt has some downside, namely his double knee injuries in 2013 and 2015, which led to only one productive collegiate season. But that 2016 performance was a convincing one: The 22-year-old had 63 combined tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown and two forced fumbles in his junior year.
However, his upside as a physical freak, football prodigy and hardworking team player combined with the Steelers' picking late in Round 1 makes him a strong candidate for their opening selection.
The Steelers need to take advantage of a strong pass-rushing draft class in preparation for a day when they will be without both James Harrison and Arthur Moats.
However, the presence of both Harrison and Moats on the roster for 2017 buys developmental time for Watt, who will see playing time as a rookie but won't be truly groomed for a starter's workload until his second professional season.
Round 2, Pick 30
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Round 2, Pick 30: S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
The Steelers would be smart to take advantage of the rare deep safety draft class and make a move early for the position this year.
Though it may be a stretch to think that Connecticut's Obi Melifonwu will still be on the board so late in Round 2, the way other positions may shake out around the Steelers makes it a distinct possibility that he will be available for Pittsburgh with the 62nd-overall selection.
A four-year starter, Melifonwu totaled a career 349 tackles (and 11 for a loss), with eight interceptions (and six over his final two seasons) and 16 passes defensed.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein describes him as possessing "elite size with premium athletic traits," with downhill tackling skills and the ability to cover tight ends—all things the Steelers would like out of their presumed heir apparent to current starter Mike Mitchell.
While rawness exists in his game, a year of development on an NFL roster (and some special teams work, no doubt) will only help Melifonwu improve as a player. That he can also take on some cornerback duties also makes him an enticing prospect for Pittsburgh.
Round 3, Pick 30
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Round 3, Pick 30: CB Rasul Douglas, West Virginia
The Steelers may be able to address their cornerback need earlier or later depending on how the board shakes out, but Round 3 seems like a good spot for the team to take West Virginia's Rasul Douglas, a one-year wonder who may be anything but once his NFL career begins.
Douglas spent only two years with the Mountaineers and just one, in 2016, as a starter, notching 70 of his 77 career tackles, his 3.5 tackles for a loss, eight of nine interceptions and eight of nine passes defensed in that season.
Before that, though, he was a first-team junior college All-American who proved he has professional press and man-coverage skills.
At 6'2", Douglas' size would be a departure for the Steelers, who have long been attracted to scrappy, smaller ball-hawking cornerbacks. But getting physical has been a priority in the secondary for the Steelers this year, and Douglas fits the mold.
Though Douglas may not be the speediest cornerback prospect in this year's draft, his ability to disrupt receivers and track the football makes him a great option for Pittsburgh in Round 3.
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Round 3, Pick 41 (Compensatory)
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Round 3, Pick 41 (Compensatory): TE Jake Butt, Michigan
The 2017 draft class is rife with talented tight ends, and it's also a year the Steelers would be wise to make additions at the position.
While Pittsburgh could tend to this need as early as Round 1, it's not necessary, especially when Michigan's Jake Butt is likely to be available to them in late Round 3.
Butt could have been a first-rounder this year had he not torn his ACL in the Citrus Bowl four months ago. He's a pass-catching chains-mover who CBS Sports' Dane Brugler likens to the Cincinnati Bengals' Tyler Eifert. Although his blocking is not up to NFL par just yet, his skills using his hands are what the Steelers need to exploit immediately.
In his four years as a starter, Butt has totaled 138 receptions for 1,646 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 46 catches, 546 yards and four scores coming in 2016. He might not be a touchdown machine, but his 11.9 yards per catch will help the Steelers move the ball down the field.
While there are questions as to whether Butt will be healthy enough for Week 1 work, there shouldn't be many about his long-term NFL prospects, and for that reason he would be a steal for Pittsburgh late in Round 3.
Round 4, Pick 29
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Round 4, Pick 29: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova
Villanova defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon is "undeniably a project," according to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, but his upside is impressive. He has the size and athletic ability that makes him a prototypical NFL defender, and though he may not have a natural home in a typical front seven, that actually works in his favor.
As Brugler noted, Kpassagnon can "play virtually any role in the front seven," which could turn him into a Steelers draft selection in Round 4.
Kpassagnon improved over his two seasons following his 2014 ACL tear, culminating in a senior campaign that saw him total 45 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. He also has a history of blocking kicks and forcing fumbles, a welcome byproduct of both his athleticism and his long arms.
With NFL teams working myriad defensive schemes and rarely spending time in base defenses, Kpassagnon could have many suitors. But few seem as good a fit as the Steelers, who could use his talents all over the defensive line and in the linebacking corps.
Round 5, Pick 30
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Round 5, Pick 30: WR Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois
Even with the conditional reinstatement of Martavis Bryant that the NFL announced on Tuesday, the Steelers still need to add to their group of wide receivers.
Though it's something that the team could do in an earlier round, the middle and later rounds have recently proved the most fruitful for them at this particular position. And Pittsburgh could find themselves with a relative steal by snagging Northern Illinois' Kenny Golladay in Round 5.
Golladay, who initially played for North Dakota before transferring (and being forced to sit out in 2014 as a result), had two strong seasons for Northern Illinois, with 160 receptions, 2,285 yards and 18 touchdowns over that span, as well as another 206 rushing yards yielding three scores.
Tall, with long arms and solid speed, Golladay is a good fit for Pittsburgh's offense and could bring them better luck in the red zone right away.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein believes "Golladay has the talent to become an eventual starter in the league," but he does caution that his route-running must improve. That, and his small-school pedigree, pushes him into Round 5.
But the Steelers shouldn't be concerned about either of those things; after all, similar things were being said about Antonio Brown in 2010 and the sixth-rounder is now one of the NFL's best receivers.
Round 6, Pick 30
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Round 6, Pick 30: RB James Conner, Pitt
The Steelers have yet to establish a backup running back to starter Le'Veon Bell, and based on the team's free-agency moves (the Knile Davis signing notwithstanding), it appears they have reserved finding that player for the 2017 draft.
While the class has numerous running backs who would be fits for Pittsburgh in nearly every round, it's something the team can put off until the end of the draft, when it's assumed Pitt's James Conner will still be on the board.
Conner, who worked his way back from not only his 2015 torn MCL but also Hodgkin's lymphoma, had an impressive collegiate career, with 668 rushes for 3,733 yards and 52 scores as well as 30 catches for 412 yards and four scores.
He bounced back well in 2016, carrying the ball 216 times for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns while also being used more in the passing game, with 21 catches for 302 yards and four scores.
Conner fits in Pittsburgh because he's a contrasting back to Bell as well as to Davis and Fitzgerald Toussaint, a duo likely spending the summer battling for the No. 3 and a kick/punt returner role. He's a bruiser, a downhill runner, a hard-to-tackle big man and a physical, enthusiastic blocker. It's just that not many teams are seeking someone of his skill set, and his medical history could raise some red flags for would-be suitors.
For the Steelers, though, Conner fits exactly what they should be earmarking at the running back position. He should be able to take the field immediately.
Round 7, Pick 30
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Round 7, Pick 30: CB Corn Elder, Miami
In a different world, it's quite possible that Miami cornerback Corn Elder would be long gone by the time the Steelers make their final draft pick.
However, in a 2017 draft class that boasts more cornerback talent than perhaps any other position, early- and middle-round prospects are bound to fall. But that's a boon for all teams—the Steelers included—and thus Elder becomes a reasonable option in Round 7.
Elder had 158 combined tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three interceptions and 27 passes defensed as a three-year starter, with 76 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, an interception and 12 passes defensed as a senior.
In the words of CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, "Elder competes with natural football sense and quickness out of his breaks, rarely missing tackles" and "has the athleticism, toughness and route anticipation" to be a nickel cornerback on the NFL level.
The only problem is Elder's size. At 5'10" and 185 pounds, many teams may shy away from him in this year's draft, despite the fact he has proven skills at not just cornerback but also on special teams in coverage as well as a kick and punt returner.
Smaller cornerbacks haven't scared the Steelers away in the past, though, and Elder's versatility makes him a great option as Pittsburgh's final draft pick of the year.
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