Are you already rolling your eyes at early NFL Draft coverage like we are?

Great! We’re on the same page!

Now, for those who enjoy this type of coverage, I totally understand the idea of early mock drafts. College season is all but over (save for some Bowl games) and players are declaring for entry into the draft. Others are seniors and speculated to be joining.

As the NFL season dwindles into the final weeks, we can figure on which teams are going to be selecting where: obviously the Cleveland Browns, barring a miraculous turnaround, could end up with the top pick… with the 49ers hovering near that top spot as well.

Since the NFL Draft is a stop gap between the end of the season (Super Bowl) and the start of a new season (training camp) any and all news pertaining to the next generation of pro football superstars. While there are some excellent early mock draft articles published, the focus of this article will take away from locking down those early guesses with actual players, and rather, looking at positional needs.

BPA

I still believe the Steelers are in a situation of “Best Player Available” when drafting next year. A few estimated guesses hinge on taking the BPA, versus a definite position of need.

First is taking care of some internal housekeeping: resigning Le’Veon Bell and Lawrence Timmons, and extending Antonio Brown‘s contract. I’m going to assume those things happen, so a gaping hole isn’t left at those positions.

Over the last few seasons, linebackers and the secondary have been the obvious “needs” for Pittsburgh. This year, I could see them going a number of directions.

Let’s examine the personnel groups by most, to least important (in my opinion).

Linebacker

Even if Timmons returns, Jarvis Jones and James Harrison may not.

As much as we may roll our eyes at taking another linebacker early in the draft, depth will be needed at this position, and with the Steelers using a rotation at OLB the last two seasons, they may want to lock down starters at those spots.

Bud Dupree is the future at one of those two edge positions, while Anthony Chickillo has shown promise, and could be the other: but if not, Chick definitely offers depth.

Behind them, the only other outside backer left is Arthur Moats, and his contract expires after 2017.

Likewise, the interior linebackers would consist of a returning Timmons, Ryan Shazier and Vince Williams (who was extended for 3 years this offseason).

The need becomes much more obvious if Timmons doesn’t come to terms on a new contract.

Either way, linebacker could be the big need again.

Defensive Line

I love Javon Hargrave, and paired with Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers have a solid defensive line. However, an injury easily wipes out the depth at this spot. L.T. Walton, a sixth round pick in 2015, has come on as of late, out of necessity. Daniel McCullers was an experiment that was worth a late round flyer, but doesn’t offer as much upside, nor does veteran Ricardo Mathews.

I don’t see the Steelers going high with a DT or DE pick, but if they have the luxury of taking BPA, we could see them target this group again in 2017.

Offensive Line

Keeping Ben safe in his latter years is ever as important.

A strong rotation of undrafted lineman man the left side of the field: Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster and B.J. Finney have all done fantastic, while the other three positions are manned by Pro Bowl caliber starters such as Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert.

As we’ve seen, when there’s an injury on the line, the team goes as the line goes. While Chris Hubbard has filled in admirably at tackle, he shouldn’t have had to fill-in at this position at all. The Steelers signed Ryan Harris this offseason as a capable starting swing tackle, and took Jerald Hawkins from LSU in the fourth round of the draft, in hopes of stabilizing their tackle situation.

Both men ended up on IR this year.

Hawkins is a raw project that could pan out, and Harris could be around for the last year of his two-year contract, but it’s Villaneuva who will be an exclusive rights restricted free agent when the league year starts for 2017. I’d expect him around for at least one more year, and he’s been great: but he’s also being paid near the bottom of the NFL’s pay scale for a job that commands top dollar.

Will the Steelers spend the money on a long-term deal, evaluate their own roster depth, or look to the draft for a top prospect for an eventual successor?

Running Back

All sorts of questions surface around this position

• Bell could be a free agent.
• 33-year-old DeAngelo Williams could retire.
• Fitzgerald Toussaint will be an exclusive rights free agent as well.
• Stashed-away Karlos Williams will have to serve the remainder of his 10-game suspension.

The only reason I didn’t put this as a higher need for the Steelers, is:

1. Running backs don’t tend to get drafted high these days, and
2. They could always sign a free agent

I really don’t know where they go with this one, but a first round choice, with Bell, is unlikely in my opinion.

Regardless, they will draft someone for depth, if anything.

Secondary

Now we’re dropping into areas where I don’t see a strong need, as most of the players are young and/or under contract: Mike Mitchell, Sean Davis, Artie Burns, William Gay, Robert Golden and Justin Gilbert.

Ross Cockrell is a restricted rights free agent who should return.

The bigger holes are who plays behind the safeties: the Shamarko Thomas experiment should be over, and Jordan Dangerfield, while he’s played well in relief appearances, is hardly a long-term answer.

Pittsburgh will also attempt to get Senquez Golson, their 2nd round pick from 2015, on the field again. He could add enough depth to look the other way, at least at corner.

Tight End

The Steelers got a steal in the fifth round of 2015 with Jesse James, who became the defacto starter in Ladarius Green‘s absence: Green too is signed through 2019.

Xavier Grimble is another exclusive-rights player who surprised in spots, while David Johnson has been a dependable hand, but will become a free agent after the season.

This could end up being a spot where the Steelers get a steal at the position, and let the player develop behind Green and James. However, it’s far from a priority.

Receiver

Speaking of priorities, the Steelers will have a slew of wide receivers under contract for 2017:

• Antonio Brown
• Martavis Bryant
• Eli Rogers
• Darrius Heyward-Bey
• Sammie Coates
• Demarcus Ayers

Cobi Hamilton and Markus Wheaton are set to become free agents in an already crowded depth chart.

Depending on if Bryant can transition back to the pros while determine whether the Steelers search for yet another pass catcher in the draft.

My guess is, they won’t bother looking until day 3, if at all.

Quarterback

I saved the most fun one for last: who might get groomed behind Big Ben?

Roethlisberger is going nowhere fast, though calls for his successor have popped up in recent years. Ben will turn 35 next year, and is signed through 2019. He easily has that much time left, if not more, when compared with his peers such as Tom Brady or Brett Favre, who played well into their 40’s.

The debate is whether to grab a Dak Prescott type prospect, and hope he doesn’t get snagged by another team when his rookie contract expires.

That timeframe would be 4 years, unless the Steelers used their top pick on a QB, in the first round: then they could option that player for an additional fifth year, if necessary.

That seems like we’re rushing the franchise’s greatest quarterback out of the door too early, but if an Aaron Rodgers situation fell in their lap, could the Steelers resist?

Taking the “best available player” gives them this luxury. I don’t expect it, but it wouldn’t surprise me in coming years.

(Let’s just hold out and hope Ben is healthy and prosperous for years to come!)