Fansided

Mike Mayock Steelers Mock Draft: Pittsburgh selects

By Matt Verderame

Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after a Steelers turnover against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after a Steelers turnover against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the 22th pick in Mike Mayock’s NFL mock draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Byron Jones, cornerback, from Connecticut. Mayock has Jones rated as the fifth-best player at his position.

2014 Recap

Pittsburgh went 10-6 last season, winning the AFC North. The defense was leaky, but the offense was highly potent behind the trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. In the Wild Card round, Pittsburgh was upset by the Baltimore Ravens, ending its season prematurely. Brown had a career-year, leading the NFL in receptions and yardage.

Team needs

All the needs are on the defensive side of the ball. After watching Jason Worilds, Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu retire, Pittsburgh must shore up the secondary and outside linebacker spots. Corner is perhaps the most pressing, a place that has needed attention on the Steelers roster for the past few campaigns.

Last year’s pick

Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech. Pittsburgh ended up taking Ryan Shazier, a linebacker out of Ohio State. Fuller went a pick earlier to the Chicago Bears.

Scheduled pick

On Thursday night, the Steelers hold the 22nd-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Tweet with Mayock’s pick

Home/NFL