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2021 NFL Draft: Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round mock

By Rucker Haringey

FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers speaks to Ben Roethlisberger #7 on the sideline in the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers speaks to Ben Roethlisberger #7 on the sideline in the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Steelers mock draft, Ben Cleveland
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – SEPTEMBER 26: Ben Cleveland #74 of the Georgia Bulldogs on the sidelines during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on September 26, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas The Bulldogs defeated the Razorbacks 37-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Ben Cleveland. Georgia. 88. player. 55. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Offensive guard

The Steelers need to add some physicality to their rushing attack this offseason. Landing a nasty guard like Cleveland in Round 3 would allow Pittsburgh’s offense to do just that.

Cleveland is far from a refined technician at the guard spot, but he’s a massive body that’s really difficult for an interior defensive lineman to move. The real appeal to Cleveland as a prospect is his mean streak. Throw on the tape of him at Georgia and you see a guy who takes sincere joy at making opposing defensive lineman miserable.

That’s a quality that will endear him to Tomlin and the rest of the Steelers coaching staff. They want to get back to their core identity as a physical nightmare for opponents in 2021. For that to happen, they need to add a mauler like Cleveland to their offensive line.

Some teams shy away from spending relatively high draft picks on guards, but Pittsburgh would be happy to secure a rookie starter in Round 3. They’ll face a nervous wait to see if Cleveland falls this far, but if he does, the Steelers should not waste any time making their pick.

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