5 players Pittsburgh Steelers should draft in the first round

5 players Steelers should draft in the first round

BLACKSBURG, VA - NOVEMBER 23: Offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw #77 of the Virginia Tech Hokies blocks linebacker Phil Campbell III #24 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half at Lane Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /

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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – OCTOBER 17: Elijah Moore #8 of the Mississippi Rebels runs past Greg Brooks Jr. #9 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on October 17, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 33-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

4. Elijah Moore

Moore has Lane Kiffin to thank for helping him improve his draft stock to the point that he can be a consideration in Round 1. He was sensational for Ole Miss during the 2020 season. Specifically, Moore projects as a guy who can make big plays out of the slot for an NFL offense right away.

JuJu Smith-Schuster’s free agency obviously will play a role in whether or not Pittsburgh wants to take a wide receiver this early. Even if he does come back, it could make sense to strengthen the team’s options on the inside.

Moore projects as a particularly good fit to help Roethlisberger if he comes back for one more season. He’s a guy who can turn short screens into long gains with his combination of elite speed and elusiveness with the ball in his hands.

There’s even a chance that Moore develops to the point where he can soak up some snaps on the outside in time. That extra boost in versatility puts him ahead of a few other slot guys projected to go late in Round 1 or early in Round 2. He’d be a solid get for Pittsburgh at No. 24 if some other guys are off the board.

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