McShay's clickbait 2021 Mock Draft - 1st Rnd

[Coryea]

I agree. A good o line makes lesser RBs look good. I’m not sure it works the other way around. With that said, we’ve found good linemen later in the draft. Beecham was a sixth, Al a FA, DD and Pouncy are the only firsts I can recall over the past several years. Just two three years ago, we had arguably the best O-line or one of them.

Unless your name is Barry Sanders.

Funny thing is since Pouncey and DD have been here, we've never been a really good running team. The best we've been in YPC is 8th and that was when DeAngelo started for us.
Here's our yards per carry average ranking since 2012 - 28th, 29th, 16th, 8th, 15th, 25th, 24th, 30th, 32nd.

 

[bermudasteel]

Yeah, I don't see him being anything special in the NFL.

Agreed - he's a Derrick Henry without the speed and nimbleness...

 

[Coryea]

Agreed - he's a Derrick Henry without the speed and nimbleness...

yep, pretty good way of putting it, I want to see what he does against Bama's defense.

 

[thesteelcity]

yep, pretty good way of putting it, I want to see what he does against Bama's defense.

I'll be watching!

 

[Stryker]

The only bonus for this pick would be getting the top RB in the Draft in Harris. Harris is also way more talented than JK Dobbins, so sometimes it pays to wait a year.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

pat Kirwan talked about this type thing in previous drafts. it sounds logical to get more draft assets, but the issue is you let someone else limit your piks. if you hold the one pick and you see one of the qbs as your guy then you take him and don't settle for someone else.

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some teams get caught up too much in getting extra picks because you are always praised for it by the media. It is always viewed as smart. It is smart for a terrible team that needs to basically draft a whole new team. But for a decent team or better, it’s diminishing returns. What if the Steelers drafted 10 guys? 10 rookies aren’t making the team. It’s a waste.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

You guys know that Harris turns 23 in March, right?

 

[topseed]

No way we get Harris. Don't see Parsons going that high either ... he opted out this year ... lots of tape on other LBs that did play.

Yeah, Parsons might end up being a project.

 

[Stryker]

You guys know that Harris turns 23 in March, right?

I did not, but for me, RB is a 4 year position, unlike D or line or QB.

 

[Hoot]

some teams get caught up too much in getting extra picks because you are always praised for it by the media. It is always viewed as smart. It is smart for a terrible team that needs to basically draft a whole new team. But for a decent team or better, it’s diminishing returns. What if the Steelers drafted 10 guys? 10 rookies aren’t making the team. It’s a waste.

i agree. The picks don't matter if they don't make the team and they don't matter if you don't get your guy. If you have 3 guys highly ranked but really covet one guy over the other two, you don't trade back and hope the guy you covet falls. You grab him when you can. So, if Jax sees Lawrence as "their guy", they should not trade back and settle for one of the other guys even if they are also highly ranked. It is a tough one because, like you said, those extra picks always seem so enticing. Me? I get my guy if is a QB. Other positions, I might bet more willing to trade back a bit, but not QB. Those are darn few and far between.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I agree. A good o line makes lesser RBs look good. I’m not sure it works the other way around. With that said, we’ve found good linemen later in the draft. Beecham was a sixth, Al a FA, DD and Pouncy are the only firsts I can recall over the past several years. Just two three years ago, we had arguably the best O-line or one of them.

You can, but you want some elite talent there as well. A plug and play player. I think what I'd like to see is:

LEFT TACKLE: Allow Villanueva to walk and draft Leatherwood or Eichenberg in the first and play them at LT day 1.

LEFT GUARD: The job is Kevin Dotson's

CENTER: Pouncey probably has this job for one year. It's a tough position to judge because you can see top players rated anywhere from the first to the third round. The top three in this draft seem to be Dickerson, Humphrey, and Myers. I'd really like to lock up our center of the future in the third.

RIGHT GUARD: You hope DeCastro bounces back next year. I don't know if he plays or if the Steelers try to sign him beyond his current contract. That's another worry for another day.

RIGHT TACKLE: I'm actually going to try to bring Feiler back. Banner is coming off a major injury. Okorafor has struggled some. Pass protection is okay, but his run blocking seems pretty bad. Feiler was more than solid playing RT last season.

 

[Hines57]

Harris would be a great pick. I would go OL with Pouncey getting older. Couldn't argue against Harris if he's on the board.

 

[Ike Kelly]

Villanueva, Feiler, and Banner are all free agents after the season. Pouncey, DeCastro, and Okorafor are free agents after next season. Harris is a potentially great running back, but I'll be fuming if the Steelers pass on an offensive tackle with Cosmi, Leatherwood, and Eichenberg all sitting there. It's easy to get fascinated with the skill positions, but teams are still built in the trenches. I'm not a huge fan of PFF, but according to their rankings, the Steelers have the worst offensive line in the playoffs this year and that group is trending down. A great running back is still going to have some trouble running behind one of the worst run blocking OLs in the league.

You shouldn’t consider PFF at all. Pro Football Reference provides actual statistical rankings, and not through proprietary analytics. Sure their Rushing has been poor the last several games but they were solid until the mess with TEN and then injuries. Passing however, they have given up the least sacks (14) all year, while being 1st in pass attempts. Plus they are ranked 6th in TDs, and 12th in points.

Definitely, a Tackle should be in play, maybe Center if one worth it is there. Otherwise, RB or DL in the second. Don’t see any chances with the QBs unless Jones falls.


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[SteelerFan448]

You shouldn’t consider PFF at all. Pro Football Reference provides actual statistical rankings, and not through proprietary analytics. Sure their Rushing has been poor the last several games but they were solid until the mess with TEN and then injuries. Passing however, they have given up the least sacks (14) all year, while being 1st in pass attempts. Plus they are ranked 6th in TDs, and 12th in points.

Definitely, a Tackle should be in play, maybe Center if one worth it is there. Otherwise, RB or DL in the second. Don’t see any chances with the QBs unless Jones falls.

Ok, I like the PFR metric of yards before contact, which the Steelers rank 31st in YBC/attempt. The pressure % of 6th feels right. While Ben gets rid of the ball quickly, the pass blocking is far better than the run blocking. This team in both talent and philosophy has taken the run game out of the equation and it's been three straight years they've done it.

 

[Muddler]

I would definitely take Harris if he's available when we pick but I don't think it will happen as I doubt he will be there. I have heard and understand the "RBs aren't worth a first round pick, gotta rebuild the Oline first or what's the point" but after watching guys like Henry, Kamara, Taylor, Cook, Jacobs, and now even Akers and Dobbins really impact offenses I think a dynamic back is worth it if you can get one. Reverse rationale for lineman; Dotson, AV, Chuks, Banner - all late rounders. Harris is gonna be a total stud. I take him if he falls to us.

 

[Coach]

Enjoy and discuss ....

JAX - Trevor Lawrence, QB (Clemson)
NYJ - Penei Sewell, OL (Oregon)
MIA - DeVonta Smith, WR (Alabama)
ATL - Zach Wilson, QB (BYU)
CIN - Rashawn Slater, OL (Northwestern)
PHI - Micah Parsons, LB (Penn State)
DET - Ja'Marr Chase, WR (LSU)
CAR - Kyle Pitts, TE (Florida)
DEN - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB (Notre Dame)
DAL - Patrick Surtain II, CB (Alabama)
NYG - Gregory Rousseau, DE/OLB (Miami)
SF - Caleb Farley, CB (Virginia Tech)
LAC - Shaun Wade, CB (Ohio State)
MIN - Christian Darrisaw, OT (Virginia Tech)
NE - Justin Fields, QB (Ohio State)
ARI - Travis Etienne, RB (Clemson)
LVR - Jaylen Waddle, WR (Alabama)
MIA - Rashod Bateman, WR (Minnesota)
WFT - Trey Lance, QB (North Dakota State)
CHI - Elijah Moore, WR (Ole Miss)
IND - Mac Jones, QB (Alabama)
JAX - Daviyon Nixon, DT (Iowa)
CLE - Zaven Collins, LB (Tulsa)
TEN - Joseph Ossai, LB (Texas)
NYJ - Chris Olave, WR (Ohio State)
BAL - Kwity Paye, DE (Michigan)
TB - Christian Barmore, DT (Alabama)
PIT - Najee Harris, RB (Alabama)
BUF - Wyatt Davis, OL (Ohio State)
NO - Nick Bolton, LB (Missouri)
GB - Terrace Marshall Jr., WR (LSU)
KC - Derion Kendrick, CB (Clemson)

Not bad. What not wait until Tuesday to see how the OSU and Alabama players do?? I could live with Harris in round one. Our OL has aged and been neglected, plus we lost our best coach. This unit needs a bad who can hit the hole quickly. And one who can go outside without going down easily. Harris checks all boxes.

 

[nooneuno]

I would definitely take Harris if he's available when we pick but I don't think it will happen as I doubt he will be there. I have heard and understand the "RBs aren't worth a first round pick, gotta rebuild the Oline first or what's the point" but after watching guys like Henry, Kamara, Taylor, Cook, Jacobs, and now even Akers and Dobbins really impact offenses I think a dynamic back is worth it if you can get one. Reverse rationale for lineman; Dotson, AV, Chuks, Banner - all late rounders. Harris is gonna be a total stud. I take him if he falls to us.

Jacobs and Taylor are the only first round picks of those guys you mentioned

 

[SteelerFan448]

Jacobs and Taylor are the only first round picks of those guys you mentioned

Jonathan Taylor? He was a second rounder.