Pittsburgh Steelers full 2021 NFL mock draft
By Nick Villano
Round 3
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. DE. Pittsburgh. Rashad Weaver. 87. player. 55
Is it a little too on the nose to take the Pittsburgh Panthers’ star defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Not when it makes perfect sense for both sides.
The Steelers are getting older at the defensive end position with Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward. They have T.J. Watt as one of the best pass rushers in the league already. If they bring back Dupree, they have probably the best outside linebacker duo in football. If they can get a little more help up front, it can further make the defense one of the best in the league.
Weaver brings length and speed off the edge. He’s one of the best in the draft at getting off blocks, and he can put opposing tackles in knots. Not only will that help him get pressures and sacks, but that will help distract blockers from going after Watt and possibly Dupree.
Weaver is never going to come off as the most athletic pass rusher, which is why he is falling to the third round. However, all the things he does right would fit perfectly into the Steelers system. It also helps that he only needs to play on certain downs for the first year while the Steelers still have veterans in front of him.