Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 NFL mock draft roundup v4.0
The 2018 NFL Draft is nearly here! Now it’s time for version 4.0 of the SCU Mock Draft Round-up.
I scoured the Internet for various mock drafts from a variety of websites, to see who some of the analysts out there felt would be a fit for the Steelers. There’s even more of a consensus on the Steelers top pick this time around, and while there are still some headscratchers, the latest batch of predictions fall more in line with how I feel the Steelers will pick.
Note: All picks are first-round selections.
NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)
Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
What they said:
I love Alexander’s swag and ball skills. He can play inside or outside and he’ll be ready to start from Day One.
ESPN (Todd McShay)
Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
What they said:
The Steelers are coming off a playoff game in which Jacksonville’s offense hung 38 on them in Heinz Field, so defense will likely be a focus early. Hughes has good ball skills and the speed to run with high-end vertical receivers. He’s also a difference-maker in the return game.
247Sports (Bryan DeArdo)
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
What they said:
No comment (about the pick) by author.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Ray Fittipaldo)
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
What they said:
Evans might not be the fastest linebacker in the draft, and he did nothing to answer that question for scouts by electing not to run the 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process. But the tape doesn’t lie. What he might lack in elite speed he makes up for with an aggressive downhill style that should mesh well with the Steelers defense.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah describes him as a “Steeler-type player.”
Evans played through a groin injury last fall, but if he’s healthy, he’ll be plenty athletic enough to develop into a three-down linebacker. He has the potential to be a plug-and-play starter, and his presence will help the Steelers get over the loss of Shazier.
NFL.com (Bucky Brooks)
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
What they said:
The Steelers’ defense needs to find an active playmaker in the middle to control the opponent’s running game. Evans is a hard-hitting defender with outstanding instincts and diagnostic skills. Plus, he adds a little spice as a pass rusher.
NFL.com (Maurice Jones-Drew)
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
What they said:
He’s a physical linebacker who’ll provide immediate help at Pittsburgh’s position of need.
Walter Football
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
What they said:
I’ve had the Steelers taking Lamar Jackson in my previous updates, but with Ben Roethlisberger saying that he wants to play for three more years, it makes sense for the front office to look elsewhere.
Pittsburgh obviously needs to replace Ryan Shazier, who won’t play in 2018. Rashaan Evans’ stock has slipped of late, but he could still be chosen in the opening round.
CBS Sports (Will Brinson)
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
What they said:
The continued attempt to replace what was lost when Ryan Shazier suffered an injury moves into the draft. He can’t be completely replaced but depth and talent certainly help.
ESPN (Mel Kiper)
Lorenzo Carter, LB, Georgia
What they said:
Yes, the Steelers took an edge rusher in T.J. Watt in the first round of last year’s draft, but I still think this is a position of need. Bud Dupree hasn’t quite broken out like we thought he might when he was selected on Day 1 in 2015. The reason I’m going with Carter here is because he could potentially play inside linebacker too, taking over for Ryan Shazier. Carter showed versatility at Georgia and wasn’t always asked to rush the passer — he had only 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
Pro Football Focus (Steve Palazzolo)
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
What they said:
One of the most unique body types in the draft, Edmunds is an oversized linebacker at 6-foot-5, 254 pounds, but he has traditional linebacker skills. He can play all three downs in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, adding range in coverage and an exceptional lateral movement in the run game. If Edmunds can clean up parts of his game, including a penchant to take on the wrong side of blocks, he could become a steal as an every-down linebacker.
Pro Football Focus (Nathan Jahnke)
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
What they said:
The Steelers traded back from Pick 28 because of a strong offer, but then traded up again to ensure the potential quarterback of the future, as well as to get a fifth-year option for Josh Allen. It’s an ideal situation because Allen could benefit from siting behind a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger before he retires. He was among the best quarterbacks in big-time throws but needs to improve on the every day throws. A year or two on the bench would give him time to improve and to adjust to the NFL.
CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso)
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
What they said:
The Steelers could realistically move on from Le’Veon Bell after 2018. With Guice, they’d have a talented three-down back as his replacement.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve seen the picks, I think we can agree this looks a lot better than some of the previous mock drafts. There are still some picks that, in my opinion, are a luxury: cornerbacks.
And let’s not even get started on the ridiculous PFF Mock Draft that saw at least four moves on draft day by the Steelers in order to acquire Wyoming QB Josh Allen and a tight end!
I believe the Steelers are set at the position, but then again, with the best player available as an option, it wouldn’t hurt to add more talent to a spot that has been tough to fill for a full sixteen game schedule every season. That could be a viable option if some of the linebackers are off of the board (Vander Esch, Evans) or one of the safeties that fit Pittsburgh’s vision isn’t graded out as a value for the 28th overall pick.
Anyone who’s heard me on the SCU Podcast knows I’ve been beating the replace Le’Veon Bell drum, so selecting LSU running back Derrius Guice wouldn’t upset me either.
In fact, I like these mock drafts way better than previous ones which kept giving the Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson.
Steer clear of that on draft day and grab any of these prospects, and I’ll be content.
Find Tremaine Edmunds deep in the first round and I may run the card to the podium myself!
