Steelers Pre-Senior Bowl 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

After an AFC North Division title, the Steelers are in a precarious position as the NFL Draft. As the Browns handed them a tough loss in the Wild Card round, the Steelers Super Bowl window closes. They have several vital free agents leaving and only that much headroom to work with this offseason. In this mock NFL 7-round draft of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, I’ll try to navigate the muddy waters they enter this offseason.

Ben Roethlisberger appears to be on his last legs, although he can run one more run. Key free agents like Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Alejandro Villanueva, Cameron Sutton, James Conner, Tyson Alualu and others could hit the market, and the holes for this team could be plentiful.

However, with the news that Roethlisberger is likely to return in addition to the elevation of quarterbacks coach Matt Canada to the offensive coordinator position, there are clear signs and adjustments. In this class, they try to build around a designed core.

Steelers Pre-Senior Bowl 7-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft

• Round 1, pick 24: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
• Round 2, Pick 55: Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma
• 3rd round, pick 87: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
• Round 4, Choice 118: Kylin Hill, RB, State of Mississippi
• Round 4, choice of composition: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
• Round 6, choice 188: William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor
• Round 6, choice of comp: Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame
• Round 7, Choice 209: Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green
• Round 7, Pick 218: Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State

Steelers 2021 NFL Mock Draft draft-by-selection analysis

Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

Senior Bowl guest, Alex Leatherwood is a name that will sound familiar to many. His hype train is the one that has been building for a few years now.

For the Steelers, that choice makes a little too much sense. The aforementioned Villanueva and Matt Feiler are likely to leave via a free agency this offseason. Yet even with that in mind, the Steelers’ weak spot this season was their offensive line. While the pass protection did a great job of holding up, the Steelers were the worst running blocking unit in the league.

Related | Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama – NFL Draft Player Profile

Leatherwood gets on board immediately and helps solve this problem. Also, when it comes to the race blocking issue, Leatherwood is big, powerful, and aggressive. So the combination of these three traits creates a perspective that will get guys moving.

Leatherwood is polished and a real plug-and-play left tackle from day one. However, he comes with the added luxury of positional flexibility, as he also has a great deal of experience on guard. In this simulated 7-shot Steelers draw, they pull Leatherwood’s trigger.

Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

The emphasis on the offensive line and running play, in general, needs to be clear this offseason. Roethlisberger is not the quarterback he once was and can no longer carry a team on his back. The environment around him needs to improve to facilitate his better self. With his best friend and longtime center Maurkice Pouncey, who might call it a career, the Steelers have a gaping hole to fill.

As such, enter Creed Humphrey. Humphrey is a prospect that will confuse some fans. Listen, it won’t give you the flashy pancakes that end up on highlights rolls. However, what Humphrey brings to the table is stability. He’s tough, strong, smart, and precise in everything he does. Essentially, Humphrey is a commander and a great communicator.

In this way, he’s already a bit of a veteran presence. He might not be the best athlete, but that’s not a drawback either. Humphrey is an easy pick in this mock 2021 Steelers’ 7-round draft.

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

I’m sure this one is going to turn heads given the needs of the Steelers. Will I really select another receiver on day 2?

The answer is yes. In this 7-round Steelers simulation project, they jump on a wide receiver for two reasons. First, Smith-Schuster could walk this offseason. If this happens, it leaves an awkward alignment of receptors in the room. Second, this team needs more speed and YAC capacity in the room.

Related | Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson – NFL Draft Player Profile

These traits are precisely what Amari Rodgers brings to the table. A true receiver of slots, Rodgers can play the part of Smith-Schuster but give it a twist. Instead of a big slot role, which Chase Claypool can fill when asked, Rodgers adds another YAC threat to complete Diontae Johnson. Rodgers reminds me of Deebo Samuel. The fit with Canada’s attack and throw sweeps is a glove-like fit. Rodgers can come in and add another dimension to the Steelers attack around Roethlisberger.

Kylin Hill, RB, State of Mississippi

The choice of the ball carrier is finally here! The Steelers can take one sooner than that, but the value of the other picks was too great to pass. So it’s best to be content with what’s available to the Steelers. With an uninspiring back room that could lose James Conner on top of that, they have to pick a running back at some point in this draft. Kylin Hill can be that guy.

Honestly, what intrigues me so much about Hill is the way he makes chicken salad with chicken poop so often. Hill is bricked up and jagged. He invites contacts and punishes defenders in the hole. Yet another important thing is that Hill has an impact in the receiving game. Hill may not step in and be a lead immediately, but he could very well be that guy by the end of the year.

Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

The Steelers corner room is solid on paper going into this Steelers 7-round simulation project. However, Mike Hilton and Sutton are free agents this year. Therefore, they are probably losing one of these guys and Joe Haden is not getting any younger. James Pierre’s promise and Justin Layne’s potential are important, but you can never have enough quality cover corners in a team.

Ambry Thomas was an opt-out this season that should interest the Steelers. He can really get up there and play badly in press coverage. This seems to be where Thomas is most comfortable.

Fortunately, he doesn’t get lost in the area coverage. There is a feeling for combinations of routes at Thomas. Plus, Thomas has the football IQ and the quickness to get to where he wants to go and play on the ball. Add to his ball skills, and Thomas is a solid fourth round cornerback option.

William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor

With Bud Dupree likely to leave, the Steelers will need to add someone to their edge depth. Alex Highsmith is a great starter, but they can’t have him and TJ Watt on the pitch for 95% of the shots. So William Bradley-King makes sense to the Steelers in this Steelers 7-round mock project.

Related | William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor – NFL Draft Player Profile

Bradley-King is what the Steelers love about their guys on board. He is shaken, long and plays violently. More importantly, Bradley-King has an array of moves he can deploy. Bradley-King is bossy and packs a punch. Therefore, he can win with a rush of speed and a normal dip-rip or with his hands. The club-rip movement he has is a big one in his arsenal. Bradley-King goes to a typical edge class earlier, but a deep edge class helps the Steelers get a guy like him here.

Aaron Banks, OG, Notre-Dame

Following the same theme of attacking the offensive line, Aaron Banks is a true blue mark for the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a passionate people and mauler, Banks has the mindset that made fans fall in love with Kevin Dotson in 2020.

Plus, he’s the guy who’ll put the opposing defensive lineman in the dirt. Banks is just a good football player who can top his draft position. In the Steelers’ 7-round NFL simulation project, Banks adds extra guard depth behind Dotson and David DeCastro.

Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green

In the seventh round you are looking for a guy inside out. For example, the Steelers especially need it in their tight room. With either Vance McDonald or Eric Ebron likely gone, the Steelers need to invest in this piece to some extent. It can undoubtedly happen sooner than that, but they wait until later in this project, given the council’s downfall.

And hey, Quintin Morris is a nice consolation prize. Essentially, Morris has the advantage. A former basketball player, Morris has legitimate speed, and as an F receiver or even a flex-Y, Morris can fit right into the Steelers offense. Above the rim, Morris is consistent, thanks to his basketball background. Even as a blocker, Morris grew with his intensity and use of the hand. In this Steelers 7-round simulation project, they’re betting on continuous improvement and Morris’s character traits.

Justin Hilliard, LB, State of Ohio

The depth of the Steelers linebacker was slim this season. Plus, they’ll likely lose Avery Williamson to free will. It’s a position they need depth in despite flashes from Marcus Allen and Robert Spillane.

So, Justin Hilliard is a solution to help alleviate these issues a bit. From a pure impact standpoint, Hilliard is a great tackle and will contribute on special teams. You can never have enough strong contributors on special teams.

More importantly, Hilliard broke downhill to make plays in the backfield to shoot holes. In addition, it shows a certain range from sideline to sideline. Hilliard plays the tough game and has traits to go with it. As a result, the Steelers will like it.