Mock the Mock 2.0

Time for another one of these. Same premise as the first: we check out who the author selects for the Steelers, and decide if we like the pick or would have taken someone else available at the time (according to whomever was still available in that mock draft).

So I'll post their Steeler selections and a link to the whole mock draft so you can see who was left on the board when they made the pick.

This a three-rounder from the College Football Network, found here.

Steelers selections:
1(21): Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
2(52): Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
3(83): Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

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My picks:

1(21): Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan

No offense to Golden, but the Steelers need help on the d-line and Grant has a special blend of size, strength, and athleticism. He can be plugged into the middle right away while refining his pass-rushing technique.



2(52): Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Really like this kid. He's got the size of an X receiver at 6'2"/210, but would make a great compliment to Pickens at the Z or occasional slot, where he can showcase his ability to get open quickly and punish anyone in his way. Know as a tenacious blocker with great work ethic and doesn't take a single play off. Would be an asset in Smith's 12-personnel packages as both a receiving threat and run-blocker.



3(83): Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Don't see him making it this far, but if he does I'd snap him up. Power runner in a 5'11"/220 lb. frame with excellent burst and vision, and that slipperiness to keep would-be tacklers from squaring him up.

 

I did one earlier.... made a few trades and picked up extra picks.... I think these results would put us on the elite list of teams once again


#29 ---- Ohio St DT Tyliek Williams
#61 ---- NC RB Omarion Hampton
#68 --- TCU WR Savion Williams
#73 --- Ohio St CB Denzel Burke
#83 --- Ohio St QB Will Howard
#163 - Iowa TE Luke Lachey
#225 - Ga DT Nazir Stackhouse
#238 - Ga RB Trevor Etienne

 

I quite like this one. We got ourselves a high end RB, got younger on the DL, got a WR with upside, a mid round CB that could develop into a quality starter (and can play man), and a developmental QB I like a lot..

I would love to see our draft turn out like this. I know its just a mock and these player's draft stock is likely different in NFL team's room than they are in the mock drafting community, but the positions and the places that we addressed them seem correct to me.

 

If we go Henderson in round 2 and Howard in round 3 here, I'm sold

Judkins would be a good fit too. I think we HAVE to walk away with one of the "short list" RB's in this draft and I think Judkins belongs in that group. I probably walk away pretty happy if it turned out like this.

 

I too like this one, and also believe we HAVE to move down to grab extra picks in 2nd and 3rd rounds. I did just that, plus a small move down in third, because the right players were not there on PFN, and almost took Howard instead of Ayrro. It did end up being our whole draft, I'd take it in a heart beat.

Allen.

 

I like it. Been pimping Jackson late.

Alexander has started showing up in first rd mocks. 3rd rd might be a dream for him. They think he's going to show out at the combine.

 

I like him (also an IN native as well), but need to dig in a little deeper because of the rise he's getting. His selling points are his initial burst, power, and athleticism; but there were concerns over his consistency, technique, and conditioning that had him as a developmental piece. Nothing wrong with that, but when you start moving into the second round you don't want too much developmental risk.

 

I traded George Pickens to the Broncos for a 2nd and 6th.

 

The Steelers better not be drafting an edge rusher in the first round .

 

You should watch Ayomanor highlights against Travis Hunter and Colorado from 2023.

 

He fell, BPA.

Also, TJ is about to be 31.

 

Art ll talked about re-signing TJ to a new deal this offseason, so yeah it would be a mistake to draft an edge rusher in the first round.

 

It's not a target but if a top 10 talent falls to 21, you take him or trade back.

 

Well, then they should trade back because an edge rusher won't help much this season.

 

If the Steelers don't fix the interior defensive line, it won't matter about edge rushers, because teams won't need to pass against the Steelers.

 

He's known as more physical than finesse right now in his route running. But like you saw, he'll find the soft spots in zone. I think part of the question we have to answer is what boxes are we looking to check with a WR in Smith's system. Some of that is hard to know because we don't know if the team sees Pickens as a player they can or want to work with, or whether they see Wilson as more of a slot or 'Z' receiver (my guess is the former). Oh yeah, and who's going to be the quarterback this year?

But I see Ayomanor as a good fit opposite a good X there, with Wilson/Austin coming in on 13-P sets. He's a tenacious blocker, and just seems to have that knack for finding open windows - reminiscent of Ward, but that's a tired cliche.

 

This is mine.
PIT

21.
Kenneth GrantDT Michigan
52.
Tre HarrisWR Ole Miss
83.
Cobee BryantCB Kansas
122.
Malachi MooreS Alabama
163.
Kyle MonangaiRB Rutgers
225.
Caleb RogersOT Texas Tech
238.
Tyler ShoughQB Louisville
247.
Nickolas MartinLB Oklahoma State

 

You are correct. BPA, not reaching for need. There are positions of more need but there are also 7 rounds of drafting. 1. Take BPA, 2. BPA/BPA at position of desperate need, 3. BPA at position of need, and so forth.


We need a RB. Please do not take one in the first round again. WR is the only skills position I would want in the 1st, ever.


Not just any DL will fit what we need them to do in this offense. Do not reach. Take the best DL for that need but at his value.

 

my only problem with which position to take is the importance and the amount they will be used.

DL we need but we did draft lee last year. we only play 2 down linemen 60 some % of the time.

WR we drafted wilson last year. are we going to play 2 rookies at that position?

RB, we are losing our starter.

OG, we are losing one starter and our other guard is in the last year of his contract. we have a 4th rounder that could play one of the spots.

CB, we may lose one starter. we have one injury prone guy to back that position up.

OT, we lose our starter and have one injury prone draft pick to fill that role.

QB, we have skyler thompson.

other than that we are in good shape.