Nothing in the 2019 NFL Draft will top the Steelers' biggest move of the offseason — trading wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Raiders. But in the deal, Pittsburgh gained two draft picks (in the third and fifth rounds) with which to restock its talent.
For a team that saw its four-season playoff streak end in 2018, what the Steelers do when they're on the clock from April 25-27 is critical to whether they rebound in the tough AFC North. The Steelers typically try to look beyond the upcoming season when they make their selections, but with 10 picks, they need to find a few immediate-impact players.
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A replacement for Brown will be part of the haul, no doubt, but recency suggests the Steelers will think defense first in Round 1 — something they have done for six consecutive drafts. General manager Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin will work to match some of their success from 2017, when the team took 2018 Pro Bowlers T.J. Watt and JuJu Smith-Schuster with back-to-back picks.
Here we take a deep dive into how the 2019 NFL Draft might play out for Pittsburgh.
Steelers NFL Draft picks
| Round | Pick |
| First | No. 20 |
| Second | No. 52 |
| Third | No. 66 (from Raiders) |
| Third | No. 83 |
| Fourth | No. 122 |
| Fifth | No. 141 (from Raiders) |
| Sixth | No. 175 (from Raiders) |
| Sixth | No. 192 |
| Sixth | No. 207 (from Cardinals) |
| Seventh | No. 219 |
Steelers’ NFL Draft team needs
- Wide receiver: Smith-Schuster is ready to become the Steelers' go-to No. 1, but between second-year receiver James Washington and free-agent flyer Donte Moncrief, they do not have a bona fide solution for Brown's vacated outside spot.
- Inside linebacker: The Steelers have tried to plug the hole in which Ryan Shazier once roamed with two free agents, Jon Bostic last year and Mark Barron this year. They could use an all-around playmaker at the position who can make a greater impact.
- Cornerback: Stephen Nelson was signed to start opposite Joe Haden, but Haden is hitting 30 in April and is in his contract year.
- Offensive tackle: The Steelers traded Marcus Gilbert to the Cardinals and could use an upgrade on the right side.
- Defensive line: The Steelers could use some depth at end with Cameron Heyward turning 30 in May. They also could consider a backup nose with Javon Hargrave unsigned past 2019.
- Tight end: The team has Vance McDonald as its new top receiver at the position, but it could use more blocking help and a replacement for departed free agent Jesse James.
Steelers mock draft 2019
First-round plan:
- No. 20: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
The Steelers are in position to be able to pick the best cornerback in the draft. Their landing Williams is possible without trading up because of prospects at other positions rising up the board. Williams is a long, lean corner (6-2, 185 pounds) who has rare speed, quickness and agility for his size. He is not the most physical player, but he is fundamentally sound in coverage and uses his length at the line of scrimmage to break up routes.
MORE: Full NFL mock draft for 2019
Second-guessing that plan:
Pittsburgh being able to draft LSU's Devin White or Michigan's Devin Bush for inside linebacker would be a coup, but the Steelers likely will need to trade up several spots to land either. If Williams is not available at No. 20, Washington's Byron Murphy and Georgia's Deandre Baker are strong fallback plans at corner.
As for other positions, the Steelers could start to think more about right tackle if Oklahoma's Cody Ford or Alabama's Jonah Williams is still available. For a tight end, they likely will need to trade up to get Iowa's T.J. Hockenson, but Alabama's Irv Smith and Iowa's Noah Fant should also be on the short list.
Given the mentality of Colbert and Tomlin, anything other than defensive back-seven player would be a shocker.
Don’t be surprised if ...
... the Steelers end up with wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. It would be a bit out of character for Pittsburgh to go hard after an offensive skill player early in the draft, but the Steelers are in the unusual position of not being a favorite in the AFC North. The Browns have the new best wideout duo in the game after trading for Odell Beckham Jr., and the Ravens have their share of offensive-minded buzz with Lamar Jackson. The Steelers landing Metcalf would indicate they mean business in keeping up with their closest competition.
The Steelers' window to win another Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger is closing fast, and pairing Metcalf with Smith-Schuster could pay off big-time right away. The Ole Miss prospect lived up to his reputation as a beast (6-3, 228 pounds) at the Combine. He is a classic size/speed prospect, and then some.
Day 2 plan:
With three picks total in Rounds 2 and 3, the Steelers might be even more motivated to draft a corner in Round 1, because their team needs line up with several players at other positions later in the draft.
At No. 52, the Steelers can go for one of two positions. Should they not draft a wide receiver in Round 1, they can target players such as Iowa State's Hakeem Butler, Ohio State's Parris Campbell, South Carolina's Deebo Samuel or Notre Dame's Miles Boykin, all of whom carry intriguing big-play ability. Should they miss out on Bush, the best inside linebacker for their scheme would be Notre Dame's Te'Von Coney.
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At No. 66, the pick the Steelers got from the Raiders for Brown, West Virginia's Yodny Cajuste would be their kind of right tackle with his pure edge run-blocking. For the defensive line, they should hope for Boston College's versatile end Zach Allen to fall to that third-round spot.
The second third-rounder, not much later at No. 83, might provide the Steelers a chance to add some pass-rush depth with Michigan's Chase Winovich or Clemson's Austin Bryant. Also keep an eye on Alabama's Isaiah Buggs as an option for nose tackle.
Day 3 sleeper:
Bryce Love, RB, Stanford (fifth round)
The Steelers got a huge fill-in performance from James Conner last season, but they need to think about some backfield depth to change the pace. Love has some feature-like skills at 5-9, 200 pounds, and he had some first-round buzz before he tore his ACL at the end of last season.
Conner is a good power back and a finisher in the red zone, but Love offers more speed and explosiveness to bust long runs. He also has some untapped upside as a receiving back. He would be a great early-down backup and late-down complement.
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Final thoughts:
Because the Steelers have been consistent contenders for so long, they have tended to use their draft picks to stock up for the future, especially defensively. They have done well to avoid desperation in the draft.
But with this class, the Steelers will be forced to tip their hand on what kind of team they think they are. If Pittsburgh shows a more aggressive, offensive tinge to its picks, that means it has some concerns about what it can do around Roethlisberger. If not, the Steelers are confident and content enough to be a more well-rounded team in 2019.
