DiCerbo: 4-Round Steelers Mock Draft 2.0

Yinzer Crazy Contributor Anthony DiCerbo. Follow him on Twitter @SnarfVenom

As futile as the mock draft effort is, I can’t manage to stay away from them. With the Steelers making more moves this past week it makes sense to update the mock draft. 

While the major needs of the Steelers haven’t undergone any significant changes since the start of the offseason the Steelers have done a good job of having their bases covered. If they had to play a game tomorrow, they could trot someone out at every position. 

That gives them quite a bit of flexibility in this draft. If they don’t like their options at a position, they can skip it. They shouldn't feel as if they need to force anything. 

That puts them in a good position to draft in, but not the easiest to mock draft for.

Round 1, Pick 17: Brian Branch, S, Alabama 

Branch is a name that I have warmed up to significantly in the pre draft process, and he is someone I can certainly see the Steelers picking at 17. 

Following the departure of Terrell Edmunds the Steelers have covered their bases at safety, re-signing Damontae Kazee and signing Keanu Neal. While both of those guys are good football players, neither feels like a long-term solution to the position. Enter Brian Branch. 

The Alabama prospect checks a lot of boxes for the Steelers. He has position flexibility, logging 569 snaps in the slot last year according to PFF. Last season he recorded 3 sacks and 2 interceptions, further proving the flexibility that the Steelers desire. 

Outside of that the Steelers would be an ideal landing spot for Branch, giving him some fantastic mentors in the secondary in the forms of Minakah Fitzpatrick and Patrick Peterson. In turn, he would give the team an exciting chess piece on defense to play with before ultimately taking up a starting job a little down the road. 

Previously Mocked: Joey Porter Jr. 

Round 2, Pick 32: John Michael Schmitz, OL, Minnesota 

A bit of a curveball for sure, but it would not surprise me if the Steelers went the route of continuing to shore up the middle of their offensive line with the selection of Schmitz early on in the draft.

The additions of Herbig and Seumalo have solidified both guard spots, and Schmitz would round out the group by adding another center into the mix. 

The road-grader from Minnesota can come in and compete with Mason Cole right away, and even if he doesn’t manage to take away the job from Cole right away having Schmitz as a plug-and-play backup for his first year doesn’t look too bad. 

Last year the Steelers were fortunate to have their intended offensive line play all but a handful of snaps together, odds are they won’t be that lucky this year, and currently, there is no backup center on the roster. 

John Michael Schmitz may not be the flashy tackle that many are clamoring for, but he is a really good offensive lineman, and he could be the answer at the center position for the next decade in the Steel City. 

Previously Mocked: Dawand Jones 

Round 2, Pick 49: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina 

There is a very real chance that Downs doesn’t make it to pick 49, but if he is there, he could be the next Steeler taken. I even thought about putting him at 32 but decided against it. 

Josh Downs doesn’t carry the name recognition that Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Jordan Addison do, nor did he have a season as flashy as Quentin Johnson or Jaylin Hyatt (in terms of national attention that is) but he is in the mix as one of the better receivers in this class and should be in the mix for the Steelers with one of their second-round picks. 

The Steelers don’t tend to use a ton of smoke and mirrors when it comes to their interests in the draft, and with the UNC receiver saying the Steelers had some high praise for his workout, I tend to believe the interest is real here. 

It is easy to connect the dots. Downs has been a productive receiver the past two years at North Carolina, playing the majority of his time in the slot, which is where the Steelers have the biggest need. 

Regardless of pick 32 or 49, Josh Downs is a name to keep an eye on leading up to the draft. Previously Mocked: Mazi Smith DL Michigan

Round 3, Pick 80: Gervon Dexter Sr., DL, Florida

Simply put, Gervon Dexter Sr. is a large human. His body type is not one that you see everyday, even in the world of NFL prospects. 

On paper, he fits the mold for what the Steelers are looking for at the position, and he has the upside that you are looking for at this point in the draft. The 6’6” 310-pound beast could come in and relieve and learn from Cam Heyward during his rookie year. 

The Steelers are in rather desperate need of some long-term developmental pieces at the defensive line position because outside of Heyward and Ogunjobi, it looks a little thin. Dexter Sr, would be a welcome addition to the room and would have the time and space to develop in a solid starter at the NFL level. 

Previously Mocked: Noah Sewell 

Round 4, Pick 120: Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Cincinnati 

Despite the offseason additions, linebacker is still a need for the Steelers, and I am a sucker for productive college linebackers. Ivan Pace Jr. certainly fits that mold. 

He excels when stopping the run, but I think his instincts for the position will be strong enough to continue his solid play at the NFL level given a period of adjustment. 

The Redhawk turned Bearcat has a lot of desirable traits that could make for a productive NFL linebacker. With Pace Jr. size is a concern, but clearly, his production hasn’t taken a hit before. 

While he may not end up being an every-down linebacker at the NFL level, Ivan Pace Jr. has the college production that makes me confident in his ability to at the very least develop into a solid role player and depth guy for a Steelers team that currently has very little outside of their top three inside backers. 

Previously Mocked: Zack Kuntz 

Conclusion: 

This time around I ended up going in quite a different direction, adding in a receiver and a center, and completely leaving out the OT position. 

I said in my last article that missing out on a top-three need feels kind of likely, but with the current crop of offseason additions, Steeler fans shouldn’t feel too bad about it. Especially when the alternatives are players like Josh Downs and John Michael Schmitz.