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

With an AFC North title, the Steelers are in a precarious position on their way to the NFL Draft. With the Browns giving them a tough loss in the Wild Card Round, the Steelers’ Super Bowl window closes. They have multiple free agents who will be leaving and just as much space to work with this off-season. In this Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, I will try to navigate the muddy waters they are about to enter this season.

It looks like Ben Roethlisberger is on his last legs, although he’s going to run out of time. Major free agents, including Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Alejandro Villanueva, Cameron Sutton, James Conner, Tyson Alualu, and more, could hit the market, and the holes in this team could be plentiful.

With the news that Roethlisberger is likely to return, in addition to Matt Canada, the coach of Matt Quarterback, as attacking coordinator, there are clear concept signs and fits. In this class, they are trying to build 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
• Round 3, Pick 87: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson
• Round 4, Pick 118: Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State
• Round 4, Comp Pick: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
• Round 6, Pick 188: William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor
• Round 6, Comp Pick: Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame
• Round 7, Pick 209: Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green
• Round 7, Pick 218: Justin Hilliard, LB, Ohio State

Steelers 2021 NFL Mock Draft Select-for-Select Analysis

Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama

Alex Leatherwood, an invited Senior Bowl, is a name that will be familiar to many people. His hype train has been under construction for the past few years.

For the Steelers, this choice makes a little too much sense. The aforementioned Villanueva and Matt Feiler will both likely leave this free season via free agency. Yet, even with that in mind, the Steelers’ weak point this season has been their offensive line. While pass protection performed excellently from its task, the Steelers were the worst running block in the league.

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

Leatherwood immediately gets on board and helps fix the problem. On top of that, Leatherwood is big, powerful and aggressive as it addresses the problem that is blocking. The combination of the three qualities thus creates a prospect that will move guys.

Leatherwood is polished and a real plug-and-play on the first pack on the first day. However, he comes with the pleasant luxury of positional flexibility because he also has enough experience. In this 7-round Steelers Mock Draft, they pull the trigger on Leatherwood.

Creed Humphrey, OC, Oklahoma

The focus on the offensive line and running game should generally be clear that it was out of season. 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 best self. With his best friend and longtime center Maurkice Pouncey possibly calling it a career, the Steelers have a gaping hole to fill.

As such, Creed enters Humphrey. Humphrey is a prospect that will amaze some fans. Listen, he’s not going to give you the flashy pancakes that end up on highs. What Humphrey brings to the table, however, is stability. He is strong, strong, smart and precise in everything he does. In essence, Humphrey is a commander and an excellent communicator.

In this way, he is already a veteran presence. He may not be the best athlete, but that’s not a disadvantage either. Humphrey is an easy choice in this 7-round Steelers 2021 NFL Mock Draft.

Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

I’m sure this one is going to turn heads, given the Steelers’ needs. Am I really going to pick another receiver on Day 2?

The answer is yes. In this 7-round Steelers Mock Draft, they jump on a wide receiver for two reasons. One, Smith-Schuster could walk this season. When this happens, it leaves a clumsy alignment of receivers in the room. Second, this team needs more speed and YAC ability in the room.

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

These qualities are exactly what Amari Rodgers brings to the table. As a true locksmith, Rodgers can step into the role of Smith-Schuster, but it does give a twist. Instead of a big closing role that Chase Claypool can fulfill on demand, Rodgers adds another YAC threat to complement Diontae Johnson. Rodgers reminds me of Deebo Samuel. The pass with Canada’s offense and the radiation is a glove-like pass. Rodgers could come in and add another dimension to the Steelers offense around Roethlisberger.

Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State

The running choice is finally here! The Steelers may have taken one earlier than that, but the value of other choices was too much to pass up. So it’s best to deal with what’s available to the Steelers. On top of that, since an uninspiring runner might lose James Conner on top of that, at some point in this concept, they should choose a career. Kylin Hill could be that guy.

Honestly, the thing that intrigues me so much about Hill is how he makes chicken salad out of chicken manure so often. Hill is bricked in and shredded. He invites contacts and punishes defenders in the hole. Another important thing is that Hill has an impact on the receiving game. Hill may not return immediately, but he may well appear as a man by the end of the year.

Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan

The Steelers’ corner chamber is solid on paper coming in this Steelers 7-round Mock Draft. However, Mike Hilton and Sutton are free agents this year. As a result, they’re probably losing one of the guys, and Joe Haden is not getting any younger. James Pierre’s promise and the potential of Justin Layne are great, but you can never have enough quality 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 mean in press releases. It seems that Thomas is the most comfortable.

Fortunately, he does not get lost in the zone coverage. There is a sense of route combinations within Thomas. On top of that, Thomas has the football IQ and the speed to get where he wants to go and make a play on the ball. If he adds his ball skills, Thomas is a solid corner option in the fourth round.

William Bradley-King, EDGE, Baylor

With the likely departure of Bud Dupree, the Steelers will have to add someone to their edge depth. Alex Highsmith is an excellent starter, but they can not have him and TJ Watt for 95 percent of the snaps on the field. So William Bradley-King makes sense for the Steelers in this Steelers 7-round Mock Draft.

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

Bradley-King fits what the Steelers hold in their leading guys. He is pulled up, tall and plays violently. More importantly, Bradley-King has a variety of moves he can use. Bradley-King is heavy-hearted and takes a beating. Therefore, he can win with a quick rush and normal dip-rip or with his hands. The club-move-move he has is excellent in his arsenal. Bradley-King used to be in a typical edge class, but a deep edge class helps the Steelers get a guy like him here.

Aaron Banks, OG, Notre Dame

Following the same theme of attack on offense, Aaron Banks is a true and blue brand for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Banks is a human hopper and cheater and has the mindset that made fans fall in love with Kevin Dotson in 2020.

In addition, he is the man who will put opponents in defense right in the dirt. Banks is just a good footballer who can surpass his draft position. In this Steelers 7-NFL Mock Draft, Banks adds additional depth of protection behind Dotson and David DeCastro.

Quintin Morris, TE, Bowling Green

In the seventh round you are looking for a man with his upside down. The Steelers, for example, need it especially in their cramped room. Since either Vance McDonald or Eric Ebron is likely to be gone, the Steelers need to invest in this room to some extent. It may undoubtedly come sooner rather than later, but they wait until later in this draft, given how the council falls.

And hey, Quintin Morris is a nice consolation prize. In essence, Morris is all upside down. A former basketball player, Morris, has legal speed, and as an F receiver or even a flex-Y, Morris can fit in very nicely with the Steelers offense. Above the edge, Morris is steady, thanks to his basketball experience. Even as a blocker, Morris grew with his intensity and hand use. In this Steelers 7-round Mock Draft, they bet on Morris’ continued improvement and qualities.

Justin Hilliard, LB, State of Ohio

The depth of the Steelers’ lineout ball has become thin this season. On top of that, they are likely to lose Avery Williamson as a free agency. This is a position they need a bit of depth despite the flashes by Marcus Allen and Robert Spillane.

So, Justin Hilliard is a solution to alleviate these problems a little bit. From a purely impact standpoint, Hilliard is an excellent tackler and will contribute to special teams. You can never have enough regular contributors in special teams.

More importantly, Hilliard burst downhill to make plays in the backfield to make gaps. In addition, he shows a bit of a sideline-to-sideline range. Hilliard plays the game hard and has qualities to match it. Consequently, the Steelers will like him.