1st Round / Leighton Vander Esch ILB / Boise State
Vander Esch is an outstanding prospect despite only playing one season as a full time starter. He is a big, long and athletic linebacker who has been compared to Luke Kuechly by some scouts. Esch was the 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and team captain. He was also the Mountain West Championship Game MVP with 16 tackles and a game-sealing interception. The first-team all-conference pick totaled 141 tackles, 8.5 for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups, and four forced fumbles in his junior season.
2nd Round / Sony Michel RB / Georgia
This pick would be great for the Steelers. Michel is one of the best running backs in this years draft class. He could work on his craft in 2018 learning behind Le'Veon Bell and become the team's feature back in 2019 if the team decides to let Bell make his fortune elsewhere. Michel like Bell has great vision and discipline at the line of scrimmage and has a great burst after making cuts. Michel would easily be effective enough to help the Steelers be a top tier team if Bell does indeed leave.
3rd Round / Ian Thomas TE / Indiana
Thomas gets lost in this year's tight end group with Gesicki, Hurst and Goedert but he himself should be viewed as close to the same tier. Thomas is known to have an incredible work ethic and character. On the field he has a great build and possesses the ability to create separation and become a threat in the seem. He is also has NFL ready blocking abilities. This would be a very good 3rd round pick.
5th Round (Pick 1) / Mike White QB / Western Kentucky
White experienced a down year in 2017 where he completed 65.7 percent of his 560 throws for 4,177 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions which earned him Second Team All-Conference. He is currently only projected to be a back up but he is a very good arm talent who is worth taking a flier on.
5th Round (Pick 2) / Tony Adams G / NC State
Adams is a very talented 3 year starter who has a lot of potential to become a starter in the NFL. Some scouts have voiced concern about his lack of length but he possesses a very powerful and compact frame which other scouts feel will still leave him as a productive player in the NFL. Adams would also have the opportunity to learn behind the best guard in the NFL, David DeCastro. He could become a utility lineman like we saw Hubbard do last season.
