Mock the Mock Version 1.0

Setup

• I present a mock draft, comprised of a link to the originating site and a list of the Steelers picks they made. Follow the link to see what players were still on the board at the Steelers' slot and post who you would have taken in that spot.

Rules

• No hypothetical trades. If you want to add an anecdote, like, "would be a good spot to trade down", fine, but things tend to get too complicated if trades get in the mix. Plus some of these are just three-rounders, so it's more fun to keep it straight up.
• You can opt to keep whomever the mock selected to the Steelers.
• Feel free to post whatever commentary/clips pertaining to your pick.

That's it. Pretty simple.

Today's mock is a three-rounder from Athalon Sports. Link to all three rounds here.

Their Steelers' picks:

1.21: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
2.52: Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
3.83: Shemar Thomas, DL, Texas A&M

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Mine:
1.21: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

What a tease having Jeanty fall all the way to 1.20. If that happened in reality the Steelers wouldn't be crazy to look into leapfrogging the Broncos with the Seahawks or Bucs. I know some will say that's crazy capital for a RB, but Jeanty looks that good. I expect him gone before that, though so likely a moot point.

I'm big on Barron right now. He lists at 5'11"/200 lbs, but plays bigger than that with a tremendous football IQ. As such can be deployed on the outside, in the slot, even at safety. He's known for recognizing routes so quickly at times he appears to be running them ahead of the WR. He lays wood in run support with a high motor and has great ball skills. Lacks elite long speed, but has great short-area twitch.

2.52: Alfred Collins, DL, Texas

I don't see Collins lasting this long come April, but I happily scoop him up here. Elite athleticism in a 6'5"/315 lb. package, with long arms he often uses to swat passes down. Strong, run-clogging presence that is not easily moved and who aggressively shakes off would-be blockers. His pass rush is still developing, but he could slide in immediately either in the middle or across from Heyward/Benton.

3.83: Savion Williams, WR, TCU

Tough one here, but with some of the RB prospects dropping, I'm hoping for a Skattebo, Gordon II, e.g., in the 4th. Williams is a physical freak of a WR at 6'5"/225 lb, displaying excellent burst to go with plenty of play strength. TCU used him in a lot of Wildcat and gadget plays just to get the ball in his hands, a la the 49ers and Deebo. Downside is it cost him some development as a receiver, which leads to his other big knock: his hands. He's not a natural pass-catcher, with eight drops last season.

 

1. I think if Jeanty falls in the 15-18 range, we'd be crazy to not at least see what it would take to move up. His 40 time will likely determine whether or not he's gone top 12 or if he slips to the 15-18 range. Might be another Marshawn Lynch. I am fine with us going CB in the first and Barron is a nice prospect. Fairly similar to Trent McDuffie. Might be that high end slot/outside guy that we like.

2. I can't say I know much about Collins, but he seems to profile as a type of player the Steelers value.

3. Williams is a great athlete, but I am not sure we wait this long for a WR unless we do something pretty drastic in FA at the position. Would be a good spot to take a shot on a player like this though if we like him. Feels like a spot where we look for that Martavis Bryant type talent that lurks at the end of day 2.

Overall I think you did fine. I would be exceptionally disappointed to leave day 2 without a new RB, but it really just depends on what we want to do with the position. Guys like Gordon, Skattebo, and really a dozen or so other players all seem to be quality NFL caliber backs that will do well enough in a tandem. However, for as deep as this class is at RB, the guys that will end up being difference makers at the NFL level will be gone day 2 (and I think there are a handful of guys that will end up doing just that). If we are okay with a middling, solid tandem RB and want to build the offense in that manner.... then fine. Go with a day 3 back. But if we want someone that could potentially be a top 10 back and a player we can build the offense around, we likely need to draft that guy round 2 or 3 at the latest. My preference is pick 52. I really think we need to be honing in on backs that have a shot at being available here. That's just my preference though.

Obviously the FA period changes the level of need for each position, so this is as good a guess as any at this point in time. I honestly think that we go either CB or DL in the first if we figure out WR in the FA period and then RB in the second. After that its just BPA, right?

 

The point here is all about who you would take and why. Just a way for draft nerds (like myself) to learn something about a prospect they may not have seen, hear what others think about them, etc. At this stage it's not about trying to predict what the Steelers will do for me, just who I like given their current needs.

The link for Athalon's projection is in my original post. Check it out if you like and post who your selections would be.

Mine went outside the box when I elected to go with Barron in the first. They need help at corner, but well may sign a solid CB2 (and/or Jackson) as they've done in the past, then go with someone later on. If they're planning to keep Pickens past next season Egbuka is an ideal compliment, with Wilson/Austin filling the 3/4 roles.

I agree with you on the general idea of taking a RB sooner rather than later given some of the talent, and Warren's lack of experience in a lead back role. This again brings me to my main complaint in the org opting not to pick up Harris' 5th year option. He's been an average performer overall, but still justifies the $7M for 2025 and, more importantly here, would've given them a reliable RB and open that draft spot for another need.

Savion Williams is an exciting prospect, but considering some of the uncertainty we have in the WR room, it would probably be advisable to find a less risky option.

 

Fair enough. Not a bad way to look at it.

Based off their list and where the players go, I almost certainly walk away with
1. Emeka Egbuka - WR - just a perfect complement to Pickens. Probably thrives as a #2 outside that can go into the slot. Is a very similar style guy to Amon-Ra St. Brown or his Buckeye counterpart Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Both quality playmakers that can move all around the field
2. Trey Amos - CB - Seems like the kind of guy we'd like. Quality developmental prospect with some length and ability to play man. In all honesty I would've taken TreyVeon Henderson here, but he is available in the 3rd in this mock. I think he is going to run a super fast 40 at the combine and shoot up draft boards.
3. TreyVeon Henderson - RB - Explosive, well developed 3 down back. Can do it all, and plays with great speed. My favorite thing about him is how he makes big plays happen. When he gets to the second level, the first guy almost never brings him down. More of a "slippery" type mover instead of "shifty" but super scary in space. Generally beats the second level defender clean and then outruns the chase. Would be a perfect complement to Warren and would quickly take the 60 portion of the 60/40 split I would like to see our backfield have. He's probably a top 40 prospect in my book, might even be higher than that. I think he's going to be awesome for someone.

I actually think differently on Najee's 5th year option though. I don't think his skillset is worth 7 million bucks to the team. Some team will surely pay more than that for him (I think), but there isn't a single special thing that he brings to the table. We can draft a guy in the 4th or 5th round and get an NFL capable back that is neither a complete liability nor is a focal point of helping us win (pretty much, Najee). Najee is clearly "just a guy" and we can spend a day 3 pick and get "just a guy" production. I'd rather spend a pick on that position, get younger (and hopefully more explosive), and let someone else pay Najee more than he is worth. We have a lot better things we can be doing with that 7 million bucks in FA.

I think we can take a shot on Williams if we lock up a high end #2 in FA. He definitely isn't the "main guy" we'd at at #2 and feel comfortable running it back with in 2025.... but if we traded for DK Metcalf and kept Pickens, then I don't see why a flier on a guy like Williams in the 3rd doesn't make sense. High upside type move and gives us leverage in Pickens' negotiations if he ends up turning into a good player.

 

I like the picks. I knew you'd be going with TreyVeon in the 3rd.

I understand your reservations on Harris, but OTC values him at $7M with last year's production, and I think his actual 5th year option was $6.75M. With the cap space they have, it really wouldn't put a dent in any plans. Doesn't mean he'd be special, but when you look at their primary needs, they're better addressed in the draft (CB/WR/DL) given their situation and value.

So we'd likely have another 'average' year from Harris save a revolution with the offensive line play, but it gets a need off the table for this year's draft.

 

Yeah, I haven't been real subtle about that one, huh? In all honesty, I think he's easily RB2 in this class. I'd take him at 21 and have ZERO reservations about it.

It would simply be kicking the can a year down the line on getting a RB. Luckily this year's class is strong, so we wont have to. I get it though. Its always a balance of getting younger and more talented in some areas while covering other "holes" with short term band-aids to get you to the next offseason.

I actually think Harris is going to get around 9 million a year, or more, in the open market. Some team will fall in love with the "big back" profile and be RB poor enough to pull the trigger. He'd be behind Conner, Montgomery, and Mixon... the same AAV as Stevenson... and ahead of Hubbard, Henry (how?), Swift, and Pollard. I don't think Najee is better than any of those backs listed, but really none of those guys are special either (Henry aside, of course). If that is the going rate for meh RB's, I think he slots in. The best situation he could go to is the Chargers. Harbaugh wants to run it, they have a quality line, a high end QB, and what looks to be a good WR1 in McConkey. I think a team like the Raiders is going to go for it though. They feel the pain of losing Jacobs, and might over compensate with a RB pick up this year. Plus, they'd want to pair the QB they are sure to take in the draft with a guy at RB they think is reliable. My guess is Harris to the Raiders, 3 years - 28 million. Yuck lol

 

I will throw my hat into the ring. Just for conversation
pieces with FA / trades needle in haystack guesses. Very early
(21) Emeka Ebugka Smooth as silk can run the full tree. MAKES GP expendable. Steelers like OSU players.
(52) Barron is my first choice, but I think he will be long gone. Ben Morrison ND upgrades the other cb spot.
(83) CJ West NT Like his motor.

 

Yeah, it's all just for fun at this point. What you do is click on the link to the original mock draft and either keep whomever they've got the Steelers selecting or pick another that's still on the board.

They've got Morrison going to the Giants at 2.34.

 

Whoops sorry, I like my picks.

 

I agree, though I wonder how well he'd fit in Smith's system. I've seen some saying his ideal fit is as the slot in a WC scheme due to his strength in weaving through traffic, while lacking the vertical speed to challenge NFL corners. Harris, who I also like, would be the opposite and I could see as a weapon flanked opposite Pickens in 12-p sets.

That's not to bag on Ebuka. Like you said, it's early. But with Austin and Wilson in the fold and Pickens future less than clear, I'll admit to being a little partial to the bigger receivers.

It would be crafty to nab Harris and Dart.

 

No worries. I might post some more, so it was just FYI.

If Morrison was there at 2.52, that would be great. But like you I think it's unlikely unless there are some big changes between now and April.