Day 3 of Mock Draft Insanity v2 has arrived!

As a quick note, I did these when the Steelers were still getting a projected compensatory pick in the 5th, but as we all know now, it’s been adjusted and upgraded to a 3rd round pick.  I considered re-working this to adjust, but instead decided to leave them as they are, and make the adjustments in v3.

Of all three days, this will be the least insane.

Why?

Look, I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, once you get down to round 5, it’s a crap shoot.

Let’s be honest, the entire draft processes is something of a crap shoot. You are taking the chance that the players you draft will be able to elevate their games to play at the NFL level. It’s not a given, even for first round picks. There have been just as many first round flame outs that people thought (at the time) were “can’t miss prospects” as there are players who were drafted late (or not at all) and made an impact in the NFL.

The other reason this is the least insane day of this mock is that almost every need the Steelers have has already been addressed. If I could trade away the rest of this draft for future picks, I think I would, because I already have 11 guys I have to sign!

That being said, there are still some potential gems available at this point, and you never know when a mid-round pick is going to become the next overachieving star!

So let’s take a quick look at our remaining team needs, and let’s get drafting!

Team Needs

(Needs that have not yet been addressed are highlighted in bold)

OLB/EDGE, LB, CB, S, TE, DL, WR, QB, RB

Round 4

Pick 4 – Montravius Adams, DL (Auburn)

Adams is another guy who is all over the boards, and will need a solid pro day or combine to really settle his spot. He’s gone on some boards as high as round 1, and on others (like this one) he falls pretty far.

The knock on him is inconsistency. He had a poor showing during his junior season, but last year came back and played much better. He’s not a great pass rusher, but more a guy who eats up space (and blocks) to clog the lanes on rushing downs.

Still, at this point in the draft, his potential as a rotational DL guy gives him enough value to take a chance on.

Other options – James Conner (RB, Pittsburgh), Noah Brown (WR, Ohio State), Howard Wilson (CB, Houston).

Pick 29 – James Conner, RB (Pittsburgh)

If you don’t know James Conner’s story, go Bing him. (Sorry, I like Bing.) You’ll find tons written about this kid. He has courage, and he has guts. He’s physical, and has been described as a “battering ram” type of runner.

He’s not quick or fast though, and that will limit his role.

To be fair, we wouldn’t be drafting him to take Le’Veon’s spot. I’m not sure he’d be the second back on the depth chart, but he could contribute on special teams, and as a short yardage back.

If nothing else, this kid will find a way to contribute, and he’s got that hometown flavor.

If he is still around late 4th, I’d give him a shot.

Other options – Jarron Jones (DL, Notre Dame), Artavis Scott (WR, Clemson), Jessamen Dunker (G, Tennessee State).

Round 5

Pick 29 – Conner Harris, LB (Lindenwood)

I’m going to call this a flaw on the board I used for this draft, because Conner Harris is almost certainly not going to be available to us in the 5th round.

Harris is a guy who studies. He eats tape. He’s a leader and very instinctive. He’s always attacking downhill, and rather than waiting for blockers to eat him up, he attacks, and is disruptive on running plays. He’s been known to be a gym rat, so team him up with James Harrison, and this could be a guy who develops into something special.

Harris has a motor that never ever stops. He has high character and great football IQ.

I’d love to see this kid on the Steelers.

Other options – Jeremy McNichols (RB, Boise State), Jerry Ugokwe (OT, William & Mary), Tashwan Bower (EDGE, LSU)

Pick 37 – Alex Torgensen, QB (Pennsylvania)

Look, it was the last need on my list, and while this is actually a little high to take Torgensen, there were not a lot of better choices, considering what we have already accomplished in this draft.

NFL.com has this to say on Torgensen’s draft profile:

“Has big, strong hands to pump and reload if he spies late trouble. Ball comes out of his hand with tight spiral and good velocity. Gets it out quick if pressure flashes suddenly. Throws with touch on deep balls.”

Sound like anyone we know?

Look, Torgensen is not the second coming. He is a solid developmental pick that has the “potential” to blossom in a system if he has time to learn it. He’s smart, he has good size, and he has better than average arm strength.

If Torgensen blows things up at the combine, he’ll go in the 2nd round and be long gone before now, but if he does only so-so, he might still be here, and if he is, I’m willing to risk a late 5th round pick on a potentially solid backup.

Other options – Oh Lord, I don’t know. None? I mean really, look at what I already drafted!

Conclusion

Talk about an insane draft! Let’s just quickly review what we got in the last 5 rounds:

• Round 1
  • Mike Williams (WR, Clemson)
  • Marshon Lattimore (CB, Ohio State)
  • Takkarist McKinely (EDGE, UCLA)
• Round 2
  • Charles Harris (EDGE, Missouri)
  • Derek Rivers (EDGE, Youngstown State)
  • Zack Cunningham (LB, Vanderbilt)
  • Chris Wormley (DL, That stupid team up north)
  • Marcus Williams (S, Utah)
• Round 3
  • Bucky Hodges (TE, Virginia Tech)
  • Ethan Pocic (OL, LSU)
  • Jake Butt (TE, That stupid team up north)
• Round 4
  • Montravius Adams (DL, Auburn)
  • James Conner (RB, Pittsburgh)
• Round 5
  • Conner Harris (LB, Lindenwood)
  • Alex Torgensen (QB, Pennsylvania)

Fifteen players in five rounds. Yikes!

Not only that, but we got a 1st round pick in 2018.

What did all of this cost us?

Well, we lost our original 2018 1st round pick: we are probably on the plus side there, because Buffalo’s pick will probably be higher than ours will be.

We also coughed up a 2nd round pick, 3rd round pick and 4th round pick, and gave up 2019’s first and second rounders.

High price to pay, but when you think about it, we all hope the 2019 first rounder will be 32, because we win the Super Bowl and pick last. For 3 first round picks this year, and a better first round pick in 2018, that’s a trade I would make and feel good about!

Yeah, I know, we crippled our 2018 draft (losing 2, 3 and 4) but if even half the guys we drafted this year pan out, we aren’t going to need much in 2018. We are already a young team, and this just makes us younger!

That’s it for this 3-piece 2nd version of Mock Draft Insanity. Version 3 will come sometime after the combine, and will be significantly less insane.

Probably… most likely…. maybe.