NFL Mock Draft 2013: Pittsburgh Steelers Select…

This pick was made by Matt Shetler from City of Champions

With the No. 17 pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame.

There are plenty of other needs for this team, but with my top targets off the board already, Eifert is a value pick at No. 17. Truth be told, had Jarvis Jones been available then he was a no-brainer and I would have been more than happy if Barkevious Mingo or Cordarrelle Patterson had fallen to me at 17, but with  both of them off the board as well, I can’t pass up the opportunity to add the skillful Eifert to this offense.

He’s ready to play now with Heath Miller sidelined at the beginning of the season and Eifert also provides insurance in case we can’t extend Miller in the future due to salary cap problems.

But the most important reason I like Eifert is that he’s a weapon for an offense that is very thin on them at the moment.

Eifert brings a new dimension to the Steelers offense. He can line up on the line or split out, and could turn into a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. With Mike Wallace now in Miami, the Steelers need to add someone that can create mismatches, even if it is from the tight end position.

I like the pick even more when Miller comes back as I would expect the Steelers to use Miller and Eifert similar to the way the New England Patriots us both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs weapons around him and adding Eifert to the Steelers offense makes sense. His skill set allows him to be on the field every play and he represents the new age of skillful tight ends that can stretch the field.

Here is how the draft currently stands:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2. Jacksonville Jaguars — Dion Jordan, defensive end, Oregon
3. Oakland Raiders — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida
4. Philadelphia Eagles — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6. Cleveland Browns — Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
7. Arizona Cardinals — Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo Bills —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
9. New York Jets — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
10. Tennessee Titans — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
11. San Diego Chargers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
12. Miami Dolphins —  Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
13. New York Jets (via Tampa Bay) — Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
14. Carolina Panthers — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints — Barkevious Mingo, defensive end, LSU
16. St. Louis Rams — Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame