Putting Out Fires: Realistic Draft Options for Steelers at 20

Story by Yinzer Crazy Steelers' Contributor Noah Nichols. Follow him on Twitter @_NoahNichols

Rarely do the Steelers make moves in the NFL draft that aren’t expected. Though they won’t tell you this, their philosophy has changed. The Steelers have proven that they are willing to trade draft picks or move back or forth if they find a good reason to. See; Minkah Fitzpatrick, Isaiahh Loudermilk.

Still, the Steelers aren’t unpredictable. We knew they would draft a running back, probably in the first round, last year. We knew that they would need a center, and tackle. And they added those things. When the Steelers have holes in their roster, they typically are clear in their intention to find solutions via the draft.

While free agency hasn’t come around yet, we know a few things about what the Steelers need to improve their roster. They need linebacker help (with the probable release of Joe Schobert), tackle, cornerback, guard, wide receiver, and of course, quarterback. I’ve covered who I think the Steelers will sign in free agency, and you can read my synopsis of the Steelers free agency outlook here.

Most Steelers fans would assume (and rightly so) that they will draft a tackle or guard in the first round, and/or a center. Steelers fans envision trade-ups into the top-10 to grab Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis. Some Steelers fans want the 340-pound freak that is Jordan Davis to be the pick at 20.

He won’t be. The Steelers are going to stick by their mantra, best player available. They aren’t trading up in the first round – they simply cannot afford to take the risk with their draft capital and spend a future first-round pick.

This one perplexes me; some Steelers fans and analysts believe the Steelers shouldn’t or won’t draft a wide receiver. I’m here to tell you yinz, you're dead wrong. In fact, the Steelers could take one in the first round. The Steelers are going to do what they do every year – not trade up or down, take a player that yinz didn’t want, and frustrate the fanbase. Until training camp when everyone realizes that Colbert and Tomlin were right, and we should stick to our day jobs and stop playing GM. What exactly will that look like? I’m glad you asked.

No Lineman in the 1st

Yes. Really. I don’t believe the Steelers will draft a lineman in the first round (unless one falls to them). The Steelers offense is incredibly young. In fact, the whole team is the second youngest in the league. They are going to want to add experience to the line. Not helping the cause of an offensive-lineman-in-the-first type of person is the problem of depth. None of the top four tackles are going to fall to 20. Well, what about the guards?

I believe the Steelers are going to sign a guard in free agency, like Laken Tomlinson or James Daniels. If they do that, there will be absolutely no reason to draft a guard. As far as center goes, the Steelers have said that Kendrick Green is a center. He’s been training with Maurkice Pouncey this offseason, who knows a thing or two about the position. The Steelers may very well bring in a player to compete with Green (they would be foolish not to), but that player will arrive via free agency (Ryan Jensen?), not the draft.

Wide Receiver in the 1st?

I haven’t seen anyone talk about this (aside from myself, of course), and I think it’s a very sneaky option. There are a couple of good reasons for the Steelers to do this. First, they need to add to the receiver room. Second, wide receivers are extremely expensive in free agency, relative to what you can expect from them.

And, if you go watch tape of Ohio St. WR Garrett Wilson, Bama speedster Jameson Williams, Arkansas standout Treylon Burks, or North Dakota State wonder Christian Watson, you can start to understand my reasoning for taking a wide receiver in the first round. That receiver could probably come in and assume the number one role. Imagine how good Diontae Johnson would be facing opposing teams’ number two cornerback. And if you think it would mess up the rest of the draft, it wouldn’t. Trust me – scratch that, here’s proof: