Joe Kuzma’s 2018 Steelers 7-Round Mock Draft

by Joe Kuzma (joe_kuzma) on April 25, 2018

Welcome to my one and only full seven-round Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 mock draft. (Try saying that three times fast!)

As everyone is doing these days (including several of us here at SCU) we’re looking into our crystal ball and attempting to predict the future. To tackle such a task, I used Fanspeak’s draft simulator with Matt Miller‘s Big Board (also much like a lot of us here at SCU).

Here’s what I came up with. I look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback, and of course, seeing what really happens starting this Thursday night.

Round 1 (28) – LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State

In this particular mock, Roquan Smith was a top ten pick (9th to the 49ers) and Tremaine Edmunds was gone at Pick 13 to the Redskins. That took the top two “surefire” inside linebacker prospects off of the board, but the guy I wanted all along was there at pick 28: Vander Esch.

“LVE” looks like a can’t miss prospect at a position of (great) need. This pick reminds me of T.J. Watt dropping to 30 in last year’s draft. LVE has all of the tools to become a starter as a rookie.

I also had the option of taking Rashaan Evans, who came off the board next to Jacksonville. I was holding out hope that Justin Reid or Jessie Bates fell to me in the second round, but as you’re about to see, that didn’t happen.

I didn’t feel as good about passing on LVE, or for that matter, Evans, to take either of the safeties at this point.

Also considered: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

Embed from Getty Images

Round 2 (60) – S Tarvarius Moore, Southern Miss

Sony Michel went to the Giants with their second-round pick (34th overall) so taking offense wasn’t on my mind. Safety was a greater need than other positions and there were two on the board I felt comfortable taking: in the end, I took Moore over Edmunds.

It was a close call. With safeties flying off the board in round two. M.J. Stewart, Justin Reid, Marcus Allen, Jessie Bates, and Ronnie Harrison were all selected in this round, Moore and Edmunds were what was left. I didn’t feel either could slip further with the run on the position and jumped on Moore over Edmunds.

Despite the latter being a bigger safety, I feel like the Steelers already have someone who’s better at the line (Sean Davis) and could even use Morgan Burnett in that role too, so Moore being lighter doesn’t bother me. He’s also instinctive and a strong man-cover player. Moore also plays well sideline-to-sideline and doesn’t appear to miss as many tackles as Edmunds.

Also considered: Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech

Embed from Getty Images

Round 3 (92) – WR Dante Pettis, Washington

Here we go! Offense time.

Wide receiver may not seem like a position of need, but looking into the future, it’s pretty much Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster left after the 2018 season. I don’t anticipate Martavis Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Justin Hunter, or even Eli Rogers to still be on the squad past this season.

Those names could be cut in camp too if the Steelers get the right players in this draft. Pettis is one of those players, slightly taller than six-foot (6-1) and a tough customer as a receiver: he’s not quite JuJu, but can lay some blocks.

He’s also versatile. Pettis lines up anywhere on the field and can run with the ball as well as return punts.

That sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

I gave some thought to running back here as well, with Penny being the best available. But if Bell is back for at least one more season, the Steelers can still role with James Conner, Fitzgerald Toussaint and Stevan Ridley behind him. (Heck, they may be able to roll without Bell too.)

There’s even a chance Bell is signed long-term and drafting a running back early could be a waste of a pick.

Also considered: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

Round 5 (148) – LB Fred Warner, BYU

Imagine my surprise that Warner was still on the board here. Projected to play outside, he reminds me of Arthur Moats: a linebacker that, potentially, could fill any of the spots in the Steelers system.

With LVE taken first, Jon Bostic signed and Vince Williams starting, there won’t be a lot of pressure on Warner to produce as an inside linebacker. With the lack of depth behind Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt (last year’s seventh-round pick Keion Adams and former sixth-round pick Anthony Chickillo) that position group could use some competition as well as bodies to rotate in.

The guy I considered taking instead landed to me anyway, so I feel really good about the value for Warner here.

Also considered: Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State

Embed from Getty Images

Round 5 (165) – RB Kalen Ballage, Arizona State

I finally took a running back, thinking that a few of the players still on my board could fall into round seven, seeing as how the Steelers have no sixth-round picks.

This is where I could see the team trading up to potentially get someone they like, as both tight ends they’ve been looking at (Smythe and Fumagalli) lasted into the sixth. Fumagalli actually went five picks before I was on the clock again following this pick, with another inside linebacker prospect from Alabama (Dion Hamilton) getting snagged just a tad earlier than that.

That left me with Ballage as the best on the board. He’s been in talks with the Steelers, so a developmental back who is a change of pace to Conner or Ridley could see the team return to a backfield by committee should Bell continue to play hardball with his franchise tag.

Also considered: Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame | Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin | Shaun Dion Hamilton, LB, Alabama

Round 7 (220) – WR Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame

The aforementioned players I was looking at in the fifth all gone, I snagged one of my two favorite late round picks. St. Brown is a six-foot-five receiver who could be an heir apparent to Bryant or DHB. I wouldn’t put all of my stock in that happening, but I feel good about bringing him to camp, and potentially stashing him on the practice squad.

Webb would add more safety depth, but I feel he too would struggle to make the roster, as are many players in the seventh round or any late round picks competing to make the 2018 Steelers (who are deep at just about every position).

Therefore, anyone taken in these next two spots will be a project player going forward.

Also considered: Skai Moore, LB, South Carolina | Damon Webb, S, Ohio State

Embed from Getty Images

Round 7 (246) – LB Skai Moore Jr., South Carolina

I looked at Moore with the previous pick, but figure that teams will look at St. Brown’s size and pounce on him.

Moore, on the other hand, is a prospect in a similar vein to Tyler Matakevich: he’s a tackling machine with good instincts but lacks the athletic measurables of others in his class.

Adding a second Matakevich for special teams is a huge win if Moore pans out, and could bump L.J. Fort off of the roster should the Steelers roll with 9-10 linebackers on the final 53. I like his value over that of Josh Frazier, who at best would get a chance to knock Daniel McCullers off the roster. Otherwise, I’ll take Moore’s special teams contributions on the final 53 over that of Frazier’s potential practice squad placement.