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While we may not recommend it, there’s enough smoke around the Steelers taking a QB to check on how it could play out.
We’re just one week away from draft night, and the Steelers have been hiding their cards well thus far. What we do know is they’ve been doing their homework on a number of positions, including quarterback.
In a previous mock draft, I explained that I like using mock drafts as a tool. They can help us familiarize ourselves with the draft board, and track how specific choices can drastically alter the flow of decision making.
While I’m certain to get some snide comments for this one, I wanted to explore what a draft could look like if the Steelers did, in fact, take a quarterback in Round 1. To be clear, this is not my preference nor meant to be taken as a prediction. However, there’s been enough smoke around the idea that I felt it was worth working through the scenario.
I have not allowed trades in previous mocks, but we’ll be changing that for this one. I couldn’t bring myself to draft a quarterback without making some additional moves to supplement that big and risky of a commitment. I also banned any players that I had picked in my previous mock. If you’re going to take the time to read another draft simulation, the least I can do is give you some different names.
Now with that all out of the way, let’s get to drafting.
TRADES!
- PIT receives picks R2.34, R3.65, and R4.105 & NYG receives R1.21 and R4.123
- PIT receives R1.32 & PHI receives R2.34 and R5.156
Our phones are ringing with both Shedeur Sanders and Jalen Milroe still on the board at pick 21. Both the Giants and the Browns are trying to get back into the late half of the round. for a quarterback. This is somewhat of a risky proposition because the team we are trading with will be taking one of the quarterbacks off the board. Still, I think my preferred quarterback will be there for us, so it should be worth the risk.
I’m in no hurry to help the Browns out of their quarterback purgatory, but the Giants offer us an intriguing opportunity. We can temporarily trade out of the first round, pick up an additional third, and upgrade our fourth-round pick by 18 spots.
With the Giants sending pick 34 in our first trade, we can then turn around and flip it with a fifth rounder to get back into the first. Securing a shot at that fifth-year option is crucial if we’re looking to maximize a rookie quarterback’s contract, and the Eagles are game to let us back into the first for a relatively cheap price.
Round 1, Pick 32: Quarterback Jalen Milore, Alabama
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Full transparency, I’m in the camp that would prefer the Steelers avoid drafting a quarterback in the first round this year. However, that defeats the purpose of this exercise, so I’m going with Jalen Milroe.
I’ve shared my thoughts on Sanders, Dart and Milroe in this week’s Read & React, so you can check that out if you want more detail. The short version here is that if I’m pushed to take a quarterback, I want one who has a special trait about them. Sanders and Dart don’t, in my opinion, so I’ll take the upside swing on Milroe.
Milroe throws a good deep ball, which meshes with the Steelers’ identity, and provides truly game-breaking ability as a runner. Milroe isn’t as consistent with his accuracy as you’d like, but to my eye, that can be attributed to some of his footwork mechanics, which is fixable.
If he can sit and develop for a year while working in some packages similar to what we saw Justin Fields do last season, he’s the player I’d most believe could develop into more than they currently are.
Round 3, Pick 65: Defensive tackle Alfred Collins, Texas
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The last time the Steelers picked a nose tackle from the University of Texas, it turned out pretty well. Collins is one of my favorite players in the draft and fans of Casey Hampton will appreciate Collins’ work as a nose tackle.
One thing Collins offers that Big Snack didn’t is height and length. Collins measured in at 6’6 and 332 pounds with 34 5/8” arms. Collins is able to 2-gap against the run, and is phenomenal at stacking and shedding blockers. He’s developing as a pass rusher and with his long limbs, Collins is always a threat to swat the ball down.
For a Steelers team looking to fix its run defense, but that was unwilling to spend big in free agency, landing Collins with this pick would be a coup.
Round 3, Pick 83: Running Back Damien Martinez, Miami
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Steelers brought in nine running backs as part of their 30 pre-draft visits. Martinez was not one of them, but the Steelers do not exclusively draft prospects they’ve had an official visit with, so he’s my pick here. Martinez checks a lot of boxes for me. He’s a big physical runner with plenty of agility to pair with it. He’s one of the younger running back prospects, having turned 21 in January. He’s also found success running in both zone and gap schemes.
By pairing him and Collins together in the third round, I’m pretty happy coming away with two starting-caliber players in positions of need.
Round 4, Pick 105: Safety Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Steelers have also been doing their homework on this safety class. If they’re looking ahead to the expiration of DeShon Elliott’s contract after this season, they’ll be leaning more towards a box-style safety.
Sanker brings a ton of college experience and physicality to the room. He projects as a future starter who is already considered a dependable gunner on special teams. In 2025, he can star on special teams and mix in on sub-packages as he earns more playing time. For more on Sanker, check out my Draft Gems series entry on safeties.
Trade!
- GB receives R6.185 and R7.229 & PIT receives R6.198, R7.237, R7.250
As we hit this point in the draft, I was still feeling like there were a handful of holes on the roster I wanted to take a stab at filling. After finding a willing trade partner in Green Bay, Pittsburgh drops a combined total of 21 spots to gain an extra pick. It’s not a move that’s going to win any GM of the Year awards, but by playing the board, I was able to address depth at three positions of need instead of two.
Round 6, Pick 198: Wide Receiver Chimere Dike, Florida
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Dike (pronounced Dee-Kay) is a player I think has been slept on quite a bit. I’m thrilled to get him in the final round. Dike is a vertical threat, and I think he has more route-running chops than Wisconsin and Florida utilized. Dike is also a willing blocker, which could aid him in an effort to win snaps over smaller players Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson.
Round 7, Pick 237: Cornerback Zah Frazier, UTSA
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Frazier is an older prospect with only one year as a starting cornerback in college, but when you get this late in the draft, who really cares? At this point, we’re betting on upside, and nothing screams upside like a 6’3 corner with 32 7/8” arms, a 4.36 40-time, and six interceptions in 2024.
Round 7, Pick 250: Offensive Tackle Jalen Travis, Iowa State
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Finally, we wrap this exercise up with a developmental tackle prospect. Jalen Travis is a 6’8, 339-pound tackle with long 34 7/8” arms. Travis is a developmental project with experience in zone running schemes. While he isn’t going to be threatening to start in 2025, the Steelers should continue taking swings at a premium position.
Picks Recap
What do you think of this result? Love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments!