The Pittsburgh Steelers have been hard at work this offseason. It feels like new General Manager, Omar Khan, and his assistant, Andy Weidl, have been maximizing the free agency moves they have made, getting the most bang for their buck. This leaves the Steelers in a good position heading into the draft. They do not have any glaring areas of need like they usually do, instead, they can truly focus on the best player available.
Maya Giron / Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager, Omar Khan.
The wonderful position the team appears to be in has led to a bunch of not-so-wonderful or unusual mock drafts. The debate among analysts is never-ending, will the Steelers move up or move back? Which position will the Steelers shoot for with the 17 pick?
On top of Pittsburgh's own solid position, there is other muddy water in the NFL that makes the process less clear. For example, some players like quarterback Bryce Young have canceled or not attended all team visits. There are some players that didn't work out at pro days or did not perform as well as expected like Nathaniel "Tank" Dell. On top of those question marks, there are a number of teams that are rumored to be looking to move up to acquire a particular player. That makes these draft waters even murkier than in prior years.
Now the latest mock draft from Chad Reuter, a draft analyst for NFL.com has been released and has some surprising picks.
Steelers Go With EDGE At 17
Reuter has a player that has been increasingly popping up on mocks as going to the Steelers, Lukas Van Ness, EDGE out of Iowa. According to Reuter, Van Ness is a good fit for Pittsburgh.
"Van Ness' versatility means the Steelers could use him inside or outside. Sometimes he moves like T.J. Watt on the edge, and other times, his game mirrors that of former Pittsburgh star end Aaron Smith."
USA Today
Chad Reuter has Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, from Iowa coming to the Steelers at 17.
The comparison to Smith feels like a bit of a reach, they are just different players. While Van Ness has the versatility to move around some on the defense, he would clearly come in as the third outside linebacker playing behind Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt. That is hard to envision considering the Steelers seem on the verge of extending Highsmith. It feels more likely they would use this critical pick for a weaker area of need and look to add needed depth at EDGE in the draft.
Van Ness is 6'5" and 272 lbs and is a strong run defender, which we need, as well as a strong pass rusher. He needs to gain some muscle mass to be a quality NFL run-stopper. He will bring splash to the field and should develop into a solid pro starter, but he may be better suited to a team that doesn't already have strong players at EDGE.
With the Steelers' first second-round pick, 32, the pick we got from Chicago, Reuter has the team taking Anton Harrison, an offensive tackle out of Oklahoma. This feels like a more plausible acquisition.
Harrison played left tackle in college and is an excellent size. He is good at playing to his strengths and minimizing some of his weaker areas. He is not quite as fast or athletic as you would like. However, he is dedicated and has excellent football smarts. He would give Dan Moore, Jr. a run for his money, competing for a starting spot.
With the number 49 pick, the Steelers' original second-round pick, Reuter selects Sydney Brown, a safety out of Illinois. Safety is a position the Steelers must address in the draft. Brown had an excellent season in 2022, but he is often criticized for missing tackles. He plays hard and had good speed, but that might not be enough for the NFL. In the right situation, he could be a player that starts out on special teams and grows into a starting role.
With the 80th pick, in the third round, the Steelers pick up Nathaniel "Tank" Dell, a wide receiver out of Houston. Dell is small in stature which has hurt his draft stock. However, he is fast and agile. He has excellent ball-tracking abilities and solid sideline footwork. He is dangerous in the red zone and as a punt returner. His speed and separation abilities might be enough to compensate for any size concerns.
With the 120th pick, fourth round, Reuter has Pittsburgh selecting Mekhi Blackmon, a cornerback out of USC. Blackmon is a physical, aggressive player. So much so that concerns have already been raised about him being too "handsy" in the NFL and becoming a penalty collector. He struggles a bit with transitions and is a little undersized for a professional corner. There is talk that Blackmon will be moved to the inside in the pros but he is still going to be a project.
USA Today
Reuters has the Steelers drafting Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC.
In the seventh round, he has the Steelers are taking Yasir Abdullah a linebacker from Louisville at 241 and Olu Oluwatimi a center from Michigan. Oluwatimi has appeared on many teams' mock drafts as a bit of a sleeper pick, usually a little higher than the seventh round. If he is still available at 241 that might prove to be a steal. He is a smart player, that does well as a run blocker. Regardless, it doesn't seem like Mason Cole needs to worry just yet.
Abdullah is a bit small to work in a 3-4 defense and many are projecting him to be an off-ball linebacker in a 4-3. Despite his size, he is strong and agile. He is a bit of a ball hawk and has solid run-defending skills. He also has an innate nose for football and the determination and passion not seen in every player.
What do you think about Reuter's most recent draft? What grade would you give this if it was the Steelers actual selections? Click to comment below.
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