By CJ Lester
SteelerNation.com
By this time next week, the 2020 NFL Draft will be wrapped up and analysts will be breaking down draft selections for every team. The draft is set to start at 8pm eastern time on April 23rd for round 1. Rounds 2 and 3 are set to take place the next day at 7pm, and rounds 4-7 will take place on Saturday starting at 12pm. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a total of 6 picks currently barring any trades prior or during the draft. The team will look to improve in several areas as there are some holes on the roster. The team addressed several needs at the kickoff of free agency. The team signed several players as I addressed in my previous mock draft, but I won’t bore you with going over all of the moves again. As we are inching closer to the 2020 NFL Draft, we will witness the draft in a way that we have never done so before. Team’s upper management will have to adjust to making selections without being all together in a “war room” this year, due to the new regulations to prevent the spreading of the Coronavirus. Let's see how my final mock played out!
Round 2: Pick 49
The Pittsburgh Steelers select WR Tee Higgins (6’4” 216 lbs.) from Clemson
Previous mock: OT Lucas Niang
I decided to change this pick because I believe that the Steelers should add an offensive playmaker with this selection. My first positional choice would have been to add a top RB with pick 49, but in this mock draft the top tier running backs were already off the board by the time I made the selection. This is a scenario Steeler fans may have to live with selecting at 49. I decided to add a top tier playmaking wide receiver instead. I was really surprised to see Higgins available here, however he was on the board. If he is still on the board on Friday when the Steelers make their first selection, Higgins would be a “run to the podium” type of pick if I were calling the shots. Higgins is an absolute threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands, scoring touchdowns on 20 percent of the passes he caught while at Clemson. He uses his size really well, high pointing the football out of the air frequently. He is able to play all three receiver spots, which would benefit the Steelers entire receiving corps. He would give QB Ben Roethlisberger another weapon to use to open up the offense even more. Higgins was a very efficient in stretching the field for the Tigers, averaging no less than 15.9 yards per catch in each of his 3 seasons there. Personally, I think that receiver is not the biggest draft need of the Steelers, but if a player like Higgins is available at 49 the team has to think about it! It’s important to note that on March 12th at Clemson’s pro day (back when those were still a thing), Steelers’ GM Kevin Colbert and HC Mike Tomlin were rumored to both be in attendance.
Round 3: Pick 102 (compensatory pick)
The Pittsburgh Steelers select RB Cam Akers (5’10” 217 lbs.) from Florida State.
Previous mock: LB Logan Wilson
With the Steelers missing out on top tier RB talent in the second round of this mock, it is still a position of need that needs to be addressed at some point in the draft. RB Cam Akers is an easy selection, if he does in fact fall to the end of the third round like he did in this simulation. Akers is a very instinctive running back that can find lanes when there doesn’t seem to be any. Florida State’s offensive line play was subpar throughout Akers’ career there and he still found ways to be very productive all three years for the Seminoles. Akers could be a great compliment to the other running backs on the roster with the potential to take over a starting role if needed. This would be a pick for the now and the future. Akers’ finished his collegiate career with a total of 2,875 yards on 586 carries and 27 touchdowns. Akers also shows the ability to catch passes out of the backfield catching 69 passes for 486 yards and 7 house calls.
Round 4: Pick 124
The Pittsburgh Steelers select IDL Leki Fotu (6’5” 330lbs.) from Utah.
Previous mock: IDL Leki Fotu
I actually stayed with the same pick here as I did in my previous mock. The value for Fotu at this point in the draft is great! Fotu is a big body type nose tackle that can force double teams and fill gaps that will allow others to make big plays. What Fotu is able to do doesn’t always show up on a stat line, but it is highly appreciated and can be vital for a defense to have this type of player in the middle of the trenches.
Round 4: Pick 135
The Pittsburgh Steelers select IOL Ben Bredeson (6’5” 315lbs.) from Michigan.
Previous mock: RB AJ Dillon
With the previous selections, I neglected to address the need of an offensive lineman. The Steelers will need to address the position at some point with their 6 selections, not necessarily for the now, but definitely for the future of Steelers offensive line play. Bredeson is a versatile piece, who is more than capable of playing all five spots on the offensive line. The scheme versatility Bredeson presents may drive his draft stock up and I could see him potentially going as high as round 2. With that being said, if he is available here for the Steelers, it would be a gift from the football Gods! He could compete for the starting spot at left guard as early as this year, but he would be a much-needed injection of youth for the Steelers offensive line.
Round 6: Pick 198
The Pittsburgh Steelers select S/LB Hybrid Tanner Muse (6’2” 227lbs.) from Clemson.
Previous mock: WR Jauan Jennings
I addressed receiver with the Steelers’ 2nd round pick in this simulation so I decided to add some depth to two positions with one selection. S/LB Tanner Muse is an extremely versatile player that the Steelers love to have on the defensive side of the ball. He would add depth to both the safety position and the LB position groups. He would essentially take the place of LB Mark Barron, who the Steelers cut at the start of the new league year. Muse could battle with 2nd year LB Ulysees Gilbert for that 3rd linebacker role and special teams’ snaps. Muse had a knack for finding the football while at Clemson finishing his career with 14 passes broken up and 7 interceptions. He is very intelligent and is capable of diagnosing plays quickly helping him be in the right spot. Muse is very athletic, but can struggle staying with wide receivers and running backs while in pass coverage due to taking bad angles on occasion.
Round 7: Pick 232
The Pittsburgh Steelers select EDGE Derrek Tuszka (6’4” 251lbs.) from North Dakota State.
Previous mock: EDGE Carter Coughlin
I decided to still address the need of EDGE depth with this 7th round selection, but I went with a different prospect. After dissecting more tape, I like Derrek Tuszka’s skillset as a pass rusher a little more than Coughlin’s. He would provide the Steelers with an additional talented edge rusher to compete for that 3rd rotational spot behind TJ Watt and Bud Dupree. The draft need for more depth at the position increased when the team decided to part ways with EDGE Anthony Chickillo. Traditionally, Tuszka is a 4-3 Base defensive end, but I think he would transition well to the standup edge rushing outside linebacker position he would be playing for the Steelers’ defense. Team’s like to see smaller school prospects dominate their competition and that is exactly what Tuszka did during his time at North Dakota State. He registered 29.5 sacks a s a three-year starter. He would be a great addition to special teams as well.
While I have your attention, go checkout Fanspeak's On the Clock simulator and use my 2020 Top 300 Big Board for all of your mock draft simulation needs! LINK BELOW!
With the 2020 NFL Draft less than a week away, how do you see the Steelers using their selections? Let us know in the comments below!
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