The NFL Combine has wrapped up. Stocks went up and down in Indianapolis. And we are now about the enter the heart of the NFL off-season.
It’s Monday – you know what that means.
We go back to the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator.
Alright, here we go…Donny Football’s Steelers Mock Draft 4.0
ROUND 1 – JOEY PORTER JR. (CB, PENN STATE)
Last Week: Peter Skoronski (OL, Northwestern)
I have finally fallen into it and didn’t have the choice of a top offensive linemen. A handful of options were out there – Calijah Kancey and Bryan Bresee on the defensive line, Lukas Van Ness off the edge and Jordan Addison as a potential reunion with Kenny Pickett. But in this situation, I think the Steelers go with their legacy pick with Porter Jr. at 17. Porter has the size (6’2, 193 pounds), but he has his downfalls too that could poke through at the pro level. He’s grabby and even though he was only penalized three times this past season, he won’t be facing Big Ten receivers every week anymore. He was at his best in press coverage at Penn State, allowing just 68 yards in over 100 press snaps last season, but again – he won’t be facing Big Ten receivers anymore. The one interception is concerning until you find out guys never really threw his way, but I would like to see more turnovers created regardless. The kid plays with great leverage and obviously has the pedigree with the Steelers – the latter will keep him a favorite at 17.
ROUND 2 – PICK 32: MAZI SMITH (DL, MICHIGAN)
Last Week: Antonio Johnson (S, Texas A&M)
The Steelers could see multiple departures to the defensive line this off-season, including Larry Ogunjobi, Tyson Alualu and Chris Wormley, so this move fills a big need and allows the unit to get younger. Cam Heyward is aging like a fine wine on the gridiron, but the other names (DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk) are still question marks. Montravius Adams is good for depth, but likely not a starter in the league. Smith could have an immediate impact. The big man checked in at 6’3, 323 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this week. He backed that up with 34 reps at 225 pounds on the bench, which led every player in his position group. He might not be a double-digit sack guy, but does he really have to be? He can be the closest thing to Casey Hampton the Steelers have had in a long time.
ROUND 2 – PICK 49: DAWAND JONES (OT, OHIO STATE)
Last Week: Jack Campbell (LB, Iowa)
There are units and then there’s whatever Dawand Jones is. 6’8, 350 pounds is absolutely colossal for what looks to be a future right tackle at the NFL level. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a few concerns with Jones.
Is he quick enough for the NFL level? Is he really a top 50 caliber player or did his size get him there? The size is great – it’s fantastic – but sometimes being the biggest doesn’t make you the best. It seems like Jones is pigeonholed to right tackle, which would create another question for the Steelers regarding Chukwuma Okorafor. Jones provides much-needed depth, but at 49th overall, he will need to provide more than that.
ROUND 3 – PICK 80: DEMARVION OVERSHOWN (LB, TEXAS)
Last Week: Parker Washington (WR, Penn State)
Devin Bush is as good as gone. Robert Spillane could be. And Myles Jack is a potential cap casualty. The Steelers will take a linebacker in the draft even if they acquire one via free agency. They value the position as much as any team in the league and if they don’t take one with their first three picks, Overshown could be their man if he makes it to 80. The Texas linebacker measured up at 6’3, 229 pounds at the combine and turned in a 40-yard dash in the 4.5’s – the guy can move a little bit. He has closing speed to go along with his size and tallied an impressive final season stat line at Texas, with 96 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks, all while collecting five passes defended.
ROUND 4 – PICK 120: TRADE
Last Week: Kyu Blu Kelly (CB, Stanford)
PIT RECEIVES: 138 (HOU), 188 (NO) & 2024 7TH (HOU)
HOU RECEIVES: 120 (PIT)
ROUND 5 – PICK 138: JALEN MORENO-CROPPER (WR, FRESNO STATE)
At the moment, you pretty much have to assume the Steelers will draft a receiver at some point in April’s draft. It just comes down to when. It could be early, it could be late, it could be right in the middle. But after George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, there isn’t a surefire name to come up with at WR3. A lot of people want to put their eggs in the Calvin Austin III basket, but the fact of the matter is, the guy was not on the field for a single snap in his rookie campaign so last year’s 4th round pick is anything but a sure thing.
Moreno-Cropper is from the same ilk, but provides better size than the tiny Austin, at 5’11, 172 pounds. The former Fresno State Bulldog turned in a solid combine, clocking a 4.4 40-yard dash following a season in which he caught 83 passes for 1,089 yards and five scores in 13 games.
ROUND 6 – PICK 188: TREY DEAN III (S, FLORIDA)
We will have a better picture soon if the Steelers have a need at safety, but finding a player like Dean in the 6th round could be a steal because you’re at the point in the draft where you just hope the players can help your team any way possible. This week, following a mock trade with Houston, the Steelers acquired this extra pick or else they would have gone well over 100 spots between selections. Dean is a big dude in the defensive backfield and fits the mold of what the Steelers like to do with players like Terrell Edmunds or Demontae Kazee – play them back deep or up in the box. Listed at 6’2, 200 following the NFL Scouting Combine, Dean didn’t wow anyone with his 4.75 40 time, but he led all defensive backs with 25 reps on the bench. Wouldn’t shock me if teams try to work him out as a linebacker, either middle or outside, given his traits, but right now he’s still labeled at safety.
ROUND 7 – PICK 236: NICK SALDIVERI (OT, OLD DOMINION)
Last Week: Wanya Morris (OT, Oklahoma)
Made the same type of pick last week in this spot with Wanya Morris from Oklahoma.
Saldiveri provides the potential and versatility you love to see in the later rounds. He has experience all across the offensive line and even if he never becomes a full-time starter, he could find himself as an important swing guy on an NFL line. 6’6, 318 pounds and can move a little bit. He’ll find a home.
ROUND 7 – PICK 243: CLAYTON TUNE (QB, HOUSTON)
Last Week: Hunter Luepke (FB, North Dakota State)
It appears the Steelers will go into next season with at least Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky in their QB room. But leaves the door open for one more. A few believe Mason Rudolph could be back, but at this point I would be stunned and question what the guy is thinking about himself if that happens. The 6’2, 220-pound signal caller from Houston turned in a nice combine performance following a season in which he threw 40 touchdown passes and over 4,000 yards. If Anthony Richardson didn’t participate, Tune could have gotten a lot more fanfare finishing top five in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and finishing first in the three-cone drill. After that performance that accompanies what Tune has put on film, I have no idea if he would really make it this far in the draft, but the simulator had him at 243 and I made the pick.