The Pittsburgh Steelers were lively in a duration of prison wrangling to this point, however something that has been the franchise’s MO is they construct from the NFL Draft. That isn’t going to switch beneath new common supervisor Omar Khan.
Lately The Draft Community launched a brand new mock draft, and in it the Steelers are addressing their defensive backfield within the first around. It is not the placement it’s possible you’ll to begin with assume with analyst Ryan Fowler having the Steelers settling on Alabama flexible defensive again Brian Department.
“Pittsburgh wishes each a nook and a security, so why now not get a participant who can do each on this NFL Mock Draft? One in all my favourite defenders at school, Brian Department, wins pre-snaps the place his skill to diagnose ideas for the Red Tide used to be constantly on show,” wrote Fowler. “Whilst a few of you ‘CB1’ Can scratch your head right here with want, communicate to me in a couple of years when he turns into one of the most premier defenders within the league on account of his versatility.”
Department is sensible as a Steelers draft select. Now not handiest did Department meet with the Steelers on the NFL Mix and speak about how a lot he’d like to play along Minka Fitzpatrick, he additionally fills out some wishes.
Department can play in each the slot and the field, which Pittsburgh will want. Cornerback Cameron Sutton left in loose company and Terrell Edmonds cannot be re-signed after the Steelers made a maintain Damonte Kazee. In 2022, Department logged 537 snaps within the slot and 123 within the field, in step with PFF.
His versatility is one thing head trainer Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Terrill Austin are happy with. At 6’0″ 190 kilos, Department has the perfect measurement and manufacturing to reinforce his versatility. In 3 years at Alabama, Department recorded 172 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 interceptions and 27 move breakups.
On this mock draft, Fowler has the Steelers passing from most sensible cornerbacks like Joey Porter Jr. and Deontay Banks for Department. That is attention-grabbing as a result of they have got groups at outdoor cornerback for the remainder of this two-round mock draft.
Shedding Sutton and bringing in a participant who can handiest play within and now not outdoor is questionable, particularly taking into consideration that the person he changed, Patrick Pietersen, is not going to get a lot tread on his tyres. Sutton has proven he is in a position to enjoying outdoor, so drafting a slot man within the first around not to pay him and now not cope with the outdoor cornerback spot with the primary 3 alternatives would really feel nearly like malpractice.
With the Steelers’ first of 2 second-round alternatives (32 general), Fowler advised them to make a choice Oklahoma take on Antawn Harrison. At 6’4″ 315 kilos, Harrison could also be a bit of brief with the common NFL take on status at 6’6″. In spite of this, Harrison used to be efficient as a Faster, being named first-team All Large-12 by way of each the AP and Coaches.
Fowler mentioned that Harrison would boost up the advance of Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
“Stay Kenny Pickett immediately,” he wrote. “Anton Harrison will assist the younger signal-caller succeed in his ceiling.”
Till Khan, offensive line trainer Pat Meyer, and head trainer Mike Tomlin are all satisfied that Harrison can take on within the NFL, a small take on right here does not imply a lot. After signing Nate Herbig to play guard, bringing in some other participant who will have to modify to protect does not make sense.
With the Steelers’ 3rd select, and moment select in the second one around (49 general), Fowler requested them to make a choice USC EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu.
“A flexible defender, I be expecting Tuli Tuipulotu to be moved in all places the defensive entrance on Sunday, as he did for the Trojans,” he wrote.
Tuipulotu, 6’3″ and 233 kilos, would fill a necessity as a backup edge rusher will have to God forbid an damage to both TJ Watt or Alex Highsmith. Tuipulito made First-Group All Pac-12 in 2021 and 2022, whilst additionally being named a Consensus All-American in 2022. He had 12 1/2 sacks and 21 tackles in 2022 on his solution to successful Pac-12 Defensive Participant of the Month. of the yr award.
Tuipulotu issues so much right here. The energy of the Steelers’ protection is their move rush, why now not improve it?
Total, It’s not that i am a large fan of this mock draft. Given the strides the Steelers have taken in loose company thus far, they wish to cope with outdoor cornerback with one in every of their first two alternatives, particularly if a participant like Porter Jr. is at the board at No. 17. I do not hate department. Pass forward in any respect, but when the plan isn’t to draft an outdoor cornerback early, the workforce will have to have re-signed Sutton.
Going to the Steelers’ moment selection, Harrison may be very dangerous, particularly after signing a guard. An undersized take on that can wish to convert to protect is a dangerous transfer, and you can nonetheless want a take on. If you will take that possibility, do it with a participant like Northwestern take on Peter Skoronski, who has proven excess of Harrison.
I really like the choice of Tuipulotu. This is a necessity and an excessively proficient participant. If the Steelers cannot agree on a freelance extension with Alex Highsmith because the EDGE and worst case state of affairs there’s going to be no deadlock, it offers them somebody to fall again on.
This mock draft nearly appears to be like love it used to be written sooner than loose company, even supposing it used to be printed lately. Sooner than loose company, I consider this mock draft will glance significantly better. I am not in point of fact keen on the best way issues are.