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2017 NFL Mock Draft: DeShone Kizer, defensive stars headline class

By Brad Weiss

Oct 1, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws in the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws in the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 17, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Dedrick Mills (26) scores a rushing touchdown against Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) and cornerback Tre Herndon (31) in the third quarter of their game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Yellow Jackets won 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Dedrick Mills (26) scores a rushing touchdown against Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Zach Cunningham (41) and cornerback Tre Herndon (31) in the third quarter of their game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Yellow Jackets won 38-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Vanderbilt. Zach Cunningham. 31. player. 55. . LB

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of those franchises who are synonymous with defense, so it is not surprising that they would go defense in the first round. The team could lose some big linebackers this offseason, as Lawrence Timmons and Jarvis Jones are in the final year of their contracts. Adding a good, young linebacker could be the route they choose to go, especially if they are picking towards the bottom of the first round.

Zach Cunningham is not a household name, but he certainly should be. The star linebacker from Vanderbilt has a motor that just won’t quit, and he flies all over the field making plays. He was voted by the coaches in the SEC as a first-team player, after racking up 16.5 tackles for a loss last year. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, Cunningham is the perfect size to play linebacker at the next level, and the Steelers would be lucky to grab him this late.

There are plenty of solid SEC linebackers in this draft, but Cunningham could wind up being the best of the bunch if he winds up in a system like Pittsburgh. The place is a factory for linebackers, and Cunningham has the intangibles to succeed at the next level. He has been the best player on a bad team for a long time, but that would all change if he puts on the yellow and black for the Steelers.

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