Steelers' Full Mock Draft

After the jump, you will find my full Steelers' Mock Draft.  From Pick 24 to Pick 248, with my opinions on each selection.



Round 1 Pick 24 - ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
Hightower is a high quality LB that can be inserted into the line-up immediately. I get the feeling the Steelers were hoping for this when they released James Farrior. They cannot go into the season trusting Larry Foote or Stevenson Sylvester as one of their starting inside linebackers.

Other Options:
G Cordy Glenn, Georgia - If Glenn is available, he is a strong candidate for starting LG.
OT Mike Adams, Ohio State - Apparently the Steelers fawned over his pro day.

Round 2 Pick 56 - G Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State
Silatolu is a small-school talent who is rising quickly. I am actually hoping that he lasts this far. He is a very good pick up at this point in the draft. The Steelers need some help at guard. They are going into the season with two solid but unspectacular performers, Ramon Foster at RG and Doug Legursky at LG. Drafting a good LG will allow Legursky to move to backup for guard and center.

Other Options:
OT/G Mitchell Schwartz, California - The Steelers need some help at tackle.
RB Doug Martin, Boise State - Tomlin says they will get a RB in Free Agency or the Draft.
NT Alameda Ta'amu, Washington - The Steelers need to plan for Hampton's upcoming retirement.

Round 3 Pick 86 - OT Nate Potter, Boise State
Potter played LT for Boise State. The Broncos averaged only 0.62 sacks allowed per game. That stat led the nation. The Steelers have a need at tackle with Max Starks no longer on the team. The tackles on the team consist of second-year player Marcus Gilbert, oft-injured Willie Colon, and backup-at-best Jonathon Scott. Potter may not make it as a LT, but at worst he is a future starter at RT.

Other Options:
RB Bernard Pierce, Temple
NT Josh Chapman, Alabama
G Brandon Brooks, Miami (OH)

Round 4 Pick 119 - TE Taylor Thompson, Southern Methodist
Thompson was a DE at Southern Methodist, but he is entering the draft as a TE. It seems like a good choice as he opened eyes at his pro day. He ran a 4.56 40 and had a 37 inch vertical. He also showed good hands. I really like his measurables. He is 6'6" and weighs around 260.

Other Options:
NT Nick Jean-Baptiste, Baylor
ILB Tank Carder, TCU
RB Vick Ballard, Mississippi State

Round 5 Pick 159 - NT Akiem Hicks, Regina
As I stated earlier, the Steelers need to find an heir for Casey Hampton. Don't be scared away by the college he is coming from. Hicks started out at LSU but left for Regina in 2010. This could have been to escape the scrutiny over possible recruiting violations. Either way, he is a skilled individual who could learn from Hampton before stepping in for him once he retires.

Other Options:
WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
RB Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State
CB Isaiah Frey, Nevada

Round 6 Pick 193 - WR Derek Moye, Penn State
The Steelers need some protection in case Mike Wallace leaves either this year or next year. Fuller is a quality pick at this point in the draft. Right now the only WRs on the roster are Wallace (who has yet to sign his tender), Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders. Moye measures out at about 6'5" 210lbs and ran a 4.52 forty yard dash.

Other Options:
S Winston Guy Jr., Kentucky
DE DaJohn Harris, USC
DE/OLB Julian Miller, WVU

Round 7 Pick 231 - SS Tavon Wilson, Illinois
I have seen Wilson projected anywhere from 4th round to undrafted. I am hoping that he is still available at this point because he would be a nice add for the Steelers. They are old at safety. Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark are both over 30 and Ryan Mundy is not far behind at 27. I actually like a guy they added this off-season; Myron Rolle. He has underachieved thus far, however. However they do it, the Steelers must get younger at safety. Wilson has some future starter potential.

Round 7 Pick 240 - RB Brandon Bolden, Ole Miss
Bolden is a big back that runs with a lot of power. He ran a 4.66 forty yard dash at the combine. The Steelers want to get a little more ground and pound back in their attack, Bolden could help with that. I don't ever see him being an every down guy, but he should do well mixed with our stall of backs.

Round 7 Pick 246 - FB Joe Suhey, Penn State
The Steelers drafting a true FB would allow David Johnson to focus more on being a TE/H-back. Suhey is a good lead blocker, but he's not going to give you much else. Oh and as a cool side note, his dad was the lead blocker for "Sweetness." Yeah, Walter Payton.

Round 7 Pick 248 - QB Chris Hart, Webber International
I know, you're looking at Webber International and asking, "Is this a joke?" I assure you it is not. Hart is very similar to Byron Leftwich in that he has a huge arm but a long wind-up. Hart struggles to read defenses, but as a 7th round pick he's worth the gamble. If he can be taught, he could be a good back-up in the future.