The Steelers Make A Trade And Then Go Big In PFF Simulator Mock Draft 3.0

The Pittsburgh Steelers are three weeks away from the NFL Draft. The excitement is building because, despite all the best guesses, they could still go in multiple directions at the end of April. One thing is sure, they will be heading to the podium on Thursday, April 27th, to end the guessing games and reveal what direction they are going. In the meantime, it is time for the completely at the mercy of the simulator, Mock Draft 3.0.

I will be using the default setting on the Pro Football Focus simulator just like the first two Mock Drafts and I am bound by who is available. Sadly, the folks at PFF have put the seven-round simulator behind the paywall, but you can still simulate the first two rounds for free here. Let’s get rocking!

The simulator started and of course, the top three tackles, Broderick Jones, Peter Skoronski, and Paris Johnson Jr. flew off the board. I was all set to make a pick when something unusual happened, the Jacksonville Jaguars came calling with Luca Brasi and made an offer I could not refuse. 

Round 1, Pick 17

Trade With the Jacksonville Jaguars - the top three tackles were off the board and the Jaguars were offering picks at 24, 56, and 127 for the Steelers’ picks at 17 and 120. In this scenario, the extra day 2 pick for Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and Andy Weidl is too good to pass up. Trade accepted!

Round 1, Pick 24 (From Jaguars)

Calijah Kancey DT, Pitt Panthers - The second year in a row the Steelers go for a hometown kid. Pittsburgh gets a chance to bring in the best Pitt Panther defensive lineman since Aaron Donald. Kancey has a very intriguing skill set and should be a tremendous fit as a 3-4 defensive end. He is not a nose tackle and should not be confused with one. A rotation of Kancey, Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, and DeMarvin Leal at defensive end will be outstanding in 2023 and put a long-term succession plan in place for the Steelers' defense.

Round 2 Pick 32

Dawand Jones OT, Ohio State Buckeyes - Jones is not going to be a left tackle in the NFL. He did not do himself any favors by not stepping on a scale to confirm he is at or near his 375-pound playing weight, but the Steelers are likely to find a way to confirm his fitness before drafting him. He is a literal giant at 6 foot 8 inches tall, but is not exactly nimble. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are going to love running to his side and his pass protection is surprisingly good, but if losing 15 pounds will result in an agility boost, it would benefit Jones and the Steelers.

Round 2 Pick 49

Tyrique Stevenson CB, Miami Hurricanes - Joey Porter Jr. and Kelee Ringo have gotten a lot of attention as the cornerback the Steelers crave, but Stevenson plays very physical and was an excellent press corner in college. He started his career in the SEC with the Georgia Bulldogs and was a superior slot cornerback. Stevenson was homesick for Miami, so he left the Bulldogs after the 2020 season for the Hurricanes and an opportunity to play outside. Stevenson has the versatility to play inside and outside and should benefit tremendously from the opportunity to learn from Patrick Peterson in his rookie season.

Round 2 Pick 56 (From Jaguars)

Luke Wypler C, Ohio State Buckeyes - The Steelers hosted a dinner for Ohio State linemen with Johnson, Jones, and Wypler in attendance. The interest in a center has surprised some Steelers insiders because Mason Cole played pretty well in 2022. Cole is not the next great Steelers center and Khan and Weidl have made no secret of the intention to upgrade the offensive line in free agency. Wypler is a center who declared early for the draft, which is almost unheard of in the NFL. The Steelers love former Buckeyes, and they find the long-term replacement for Maurkice Pouncey with Wypler.

Round 3 Pick 80

Nick Herbig Edge, Wisconsin Badgers - Herbig is a little too short at 6'2" tall to play the edge full-time in the NFL and is projected to move to inside linebacker in the NFL. There is a lot to like when you hear high-motor, insanely athletic Wisconsin linebacker who should provide quality depth for TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith while he is learning how to play next to Cole Holcomb or Elandon Roberts. Herbig has a high upside and could be an absolute steal in the third round. 

Round 4 Pick 127 (From Jaguars)

Keondre Coburn DL, Texas Longhorns - The Steelers need a long-term answer at nose tackle. They signed Breiden Fehoko in free agency and both he and Montravius Adams will be competing for a nose tackle roster spot. The last time the Steelers picked a Texas nose tackle, it worked out pretty well. At 6 feet 2 inches tall and tipping the scales at 344, Coburn will be a chore for any center and command double teams early in his career. 

Round 7 Pick 234

Marte Mapu S, Sacramento State - The Steelers love small college players and Mapu is being scouted as a hybrid safety, and nickel linebacker at the NFL level. Mapu is big and surprisingly fast. He did not attend the combine in Indianapolis, but was impressive at the Senior Bowl. He was clocked over 19mph with next-gen technology multiple times and should be an immediate asset on special teams. He has the chance to contribute as a coverage linebacker in spot duty while adapting to NFL speed at safety in 2023. 

Round 7 Pick 241

Cameron Brown CB, Ohio State Buckeyes - Brown’s collegiate career was marred by injuries. He lost games to a leg injury that cost him most of his freshman season, an Achilles injury cost him his junior season in 2020 and knee injuries have limited him in 2021 and 2022. Brown has tantalizing talent and earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod in 2021 despite only starting five games. The seventh round for Brown is low risk, and if he somehow stays healthy it could be an extremely high reward. 

Steelers Look For Help In Secondary In PFF Simulator Mock Draft 2.0

The PFF simulator rewarded this effort with an A! The only C grade was for Coburn which may have resulted from the first-round selection of Kancey. The simulator is probably not taking into account that Kancey will be an end in the 3-4 and Coburn is a true nose tackle, but why quibble with an A in two consecutive mock drafts? 

Full disclosure, I agonized over a wide receiver at 80, but Marvin Mims was projected at 109 and Trey Palmer at 130, so I was hoping one would be available in the fourth. They were not and when faced with the choice of Coburn and Parker Washington as the best available wide receiver, it came down to what I thought Weidl and Khan would do and that seems to be to prioritize the trenches. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you pleased with the idea of a trade and are you happy with the results? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.