We are officially in April and the NFL Draft is less than a month away. We are getting there as things continue to heat up around the league.
It’s Monday – you know what that means.
Now we go back to the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator.
Alright, here we go…Donny Football’s Steelers Mock Draft 8.0
ROUND 1 – PICK 17: DEONTE BANK (CB, MARYLAND)
Last Week: Brian Branch (S, Alabama)
Banks is becoming more and more of a popular mock to the Steelers as the weeks go on. He has the blend of size, speed and athleticism that could make for a future as a franchise’s top corner. He checked in at the combine right at 6-foot and a hair under 200 pounds while running a 4.35 40-yard dash. He has ability to play inside and outside whatever appears to be more suited for him at the next level. In nine starts this year he tallied 38 total tackles and a pick. Another important piece of info — Banks played at Maryland and we know that could only help his case as we draw near to the draft.
ROUND 2 – PICK 32: WILL MCDONALD IV (EDGE, IOWA STATE)
Last Week: Dawand Jones (OT, Ohio State)
Former Steeler Bud Dupree came and left town without a contract to return to Pittsburgh next season. The Steelers also have an affinity for edge rushers and even though the two starters consist of one of the game’s best and a pretty damn good sidekick, they certainly could replenish their depth later this month. The 6’4, 240 McDonald can be that next guy. The Steelers desperately need a third wheel on the rotation spoke of edge rushers behind TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith because the names behind them aren’t exactly memorable and a single injury could prove costly. Not in this case. McDonald is worthy of a 1st round selection, but could slip to that first pick in round two with the Steelers on the clock.
ROUND 2 – PICK 49: MATTHEW BERGERON (OT, SYRACUSE)
Last Week: Adetomiwa Adebawore (Edge, Northwestern)
If you believe the reports that the Steelers were “in” on Orlando Brown Jr. before he became a Bengal, then we know the Steelers aren’t totally satisfied with what they have at left tackle going into next season. Dan Moore Jr. has been an OK player, but that might be his ceiling. With someone like Andy Weidl seemingly having more say in the front office than we previously expected, I don’t think the Steelers avoid offensive tackle in their first three picks.
Bergeron could be the name we hear at 49 if we don’t hear another tackle’s name earlier. Some scouts worry about his pass blocking, even though he registered an 80.8 grade in that metric from PFF last season. Other scouts love what they see Bergeron do in the run game. I don’t think this is a bad option if the Steelers wait a little bit to address the outside of their offensive line. A guy compared to Joel Bitonio? Yeah, sign me up.
ROUND 3 – PICK 80: JAMMIE ROBINSON (S, FLORIDA STATE)
Last Week: Tre’vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB, TCU)
Terrell Edmunds is out and Keanu Neal is in, but Neal won’t be viewed as a week one starter and will mainly find his role in depth. Robinson kind of fits that same billing. The 5’11, 191-pound safety could find a home being that rover type player that the Steelers like to have opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Florida State product showed steady improvement over the course of his collegiate career and capped it off with 99 total tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery all in 13 games last season. In nearly 800 snaps with the Seminoles, he graded out with a 78 in coverage and 80.1 against the run. Day one starter? Not sure. Competent rotational role player? Absolutely.
ROUND 4 – PICK 120: KOBIE TURNER (DL, WAKE FOREST)
Last Week: TRADE
Another week of finding a defensive lineman that has some great grades from Pro Football Focus. And Turner is a guy that can move around on that defensive front that the Steelers are looking for. 6’3, 290 pounds with most of his time spent in the B-gap, but spreads out his talents in the A-gap, over the tackle and outside of it. A pass rush grade of 88.8 and run grade of 93.1 shows this guy can do both. These are the types of diamonds in the rough you look for late in the draft.
ROUND 7 – PICK 234: SIRVOCEA DENNIS (LB, PITTSBURGH)
Last Week: Mohamed Ibrahim (RB, Minnesota)
Before this past season, Dennis was likely looking like an undrafted free agent. He might still be. But a team could take a shot on the high-motored linebacker late in the draft. A drastic grade improvement from PFF, going from an even 65 in 2021 to a 90.6 in 2022 as one of the better defenders in college football.
Dennis is a smart player and was a leader at Pitt while sharing a facility with the Steelers during the season. He won’t blow anyone away, but also provides valuable special teams experience that will likely get him an NFL roster spot.
ROUND 7 – PICK 241: BRENTON STRANGE (TE, PENN STATE)
Last Week: Justin Shorter (WR, Florida)
This one is in ode to my pal, Joe Smeltzer from Nittany Sports Now, who joined me last week and said Strange would be a great addition to the Steelers, even with the retainment of Zach Gentry. Strange is another big target from Penn State that checks in at 6’4, 253 pounds who hauled in five touchdowns and 362 yards last season on 32 receptions. A tight end like this could also prove to be a valuable extra lineman, like Gentry has served to be in his last few seasons.
Smeltzer told me he is the embodiment of a future Steeler and we could see that come true at the end of this month.