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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Curt Popejoy

Re-drafting Steelers picks in new 7-round NFL mock draft sim

It is time once again to run a full seven-round mock draft simulation from our friends over at the Pro Football Network and break down the Pittsburgh Steelers picks. Which picks will stay and which ones will we change? Read on and find out.

First round - CB Cam Smith, South Carolina

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If Cameron Sutton is gone in free agency, drafting his replacement makes sense and even as the fourth cornerback off the board, Cam Smith is a solid option. I’d probably have gone with EDGE Lukas Van Ness or offensive tackle Peter Skoronski and get the Steelers started building in the trenches where they need help the most.

Second round - TE Darnell Washington, Georgia

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This pick went way off script and frankly would be a legitimate waste of a pick for a team with Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward on the roster. If we left Smith as the first-round pick, offensive tackle Anton Harrison, EDGE Nolan Smith or LB Drew Sanders would be much better choices.

Second round - WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Another pick that feels too soon. Pittsburgh has plenty of weapons in the passing game with Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Steven Sims, Calvin Johnson III and Pat Friermuth. Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter or Calijah Kancey should be the pick here instead.

Third round - OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse

AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

If the Steelers can get Matthew Bergeron here, that’s a quality value pick. But if offensive line is addressed earlier, cornerback Julius Brents is the best option here to replace Smith in the first round.

Fourth round - C Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Interior offensive line is definitely a need and Stromberg is a nice, versatile option here. Tough to argue any other player over him for this pick.

Seventh round - WR Andrei Iosivas, Princeton

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

There must have been a glitch in the algorithm in this seventh round with the Steelers drafting two more wide receivers. Guard Mark Evans II and EDGE Durell Nchami at least have a fighting chance to help the team.

Seventh round - WR Jadakis Bonds, Hampton

(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

A third wide receiver is not what the Steelers want to do. But if we correct the picks for the first two, I’m good with Jadakis Bonds in the seventh round. He’s a highly productive receiver with excellent measurables and is a documented deep threat who can beat coverage.

The re-draft

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Ok, so taking all the picks as they fell in this sim, here’s how it draft would have looked if we had been in charge.

First round – OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

Second round – EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia

Second round – DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt

Third round – CB Julius Brents, Kansas State

Fourth round – OL Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

Seventh round – LB Jeremy Banks, Tennessee

Seventh round – WR Jadakis Bonds, Hampton

 

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