2019 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round mock
If the Steelers wants to get back to the postseason in 2019 they’ll need a strong draft. Here’s one way Pittsburgh might approach all seven rounds.
Narrowly missing the playoffs just isn’t good enough for Mike Tomlin and company. They have a lot of work to do this offseason in free agency, but their 2019 draft will be just as important. In this piece, we’ll walk you through what the Steelers might do in all seven rounds.
The Steelers have a lot of top-end talent, but they do have quite a few needs. Finding a top flight cornerback is an absolute necessity. Strengthening the defense with an athletic linebacker and another pass rusher would also be advisable. It might be difficult for the Pittsburgh front office to completely retool the defense in one draft.
On the offensive side of the football, finding a running back to pair with James Conner should be a priority. A replacement for Ramon Foster at guard could be attractive to the Steelers’ brass as well. In fairness, those needs might be easier to fill via free agency.
Round 1 – Greedy Williams
Based on talent alone, Williams would easily end up as a top-10 pick in this year’s draft. Unfortunately for the former LSU star, questions about his effort level are going to push him further down team’s draft boards. With that being said, he’s still a great bet to go off the board in round 1.
In fact, Pittsburgh might have to move up a little bit if they decide he’s the right cornerback for them. In our estimation, he’s the proper guy to help elevate this secondary. Defensive backs with his range, size and ball skills don’t come along every year. Gambling on his potential could make a front office look brilliant early in his rookie season.
When you watch Williams on film it’s clear that he isn’t locked in all the time for LSU. Then again, it’s possible he just got bored on occasion. He’s such a supreme athlete that he can frequently get away with below-average technique. That will need to be coached out of him in the NFL, but the Steelers have the sort of staff who can get his attention.
The only real concern we have with Williams is his propensity to duck out of a physical tackle. He’ll need to improve mentally in that regard if he’s going to fulfill his Pro Bowl potential. The Steelers have the sort of roster that can afford to take a big swing in the first round. They should feel free to get Greedy.