The Pittsburgh Steelers entered this offseason with a question mark at quarterback for the first time since all the way back in 2004.
Outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert addressed this issue by signing former Chicago Bears first-round bust Mitchell Trubisky. He’s unlikely to be a long-term solution in the Steel City.
For a Steelers squad that continues to have playoff aspirations, acing the 2022 NFL Draft is going to loom large. Before we get into our Steelers mock draft, let’s check in on the picks they boast in the annual event.
Related: Sportsnaut’s 2022 NFL mock draft
2022 Pittsburgh Steelers draft picks
- First round, 20th pick
- Second round, 52nd pick
- Third round, 84th pick
- Fourth round, 138th overall
- Sixth round, 208th pick
- Seventh round, 225th pick
- Seventh round, 241st pick
Let’s dive into our 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft with regular updates provided throughout the pre-draft process.
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Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft: Finding a future in Steel Town
Quarterback remains a major need for Pittsburgh. And while we hate focusing on the football aspect of the tragedy, Dwayne Haskins’ death does add another layer to this.
Outside of that all-important position, there’s needs at wide receiver,left tackle, out on the edge and in the defensive secondary.
First round, 20th pick: Kenny Pickett, quarterback, Pittsburgh
What better option for the Pittsburgh Steelers in this mock draft than finding a long-term replacement at quarterback in someone who starred in-city for the Panthers? It would be an absolutely ideal scenario for Pittsburgh.
To many, Kenny Pickett is the second-best quarterback in the draft behind Malik Willis. He displays the natural traits teams look for in a quarterback. That includes a strong arm and a high level of accuracy on intermediate routes.
- Kenny Pickett stats (2021): 67% completion, 4,319 passing yards, 241 rushing yards, 47 total TD, 7 INT
The idea here would be for Pickett to sit behind Trubisky for a season or two before taking over under center. Finally, the Steelers would have a succession plan.
Related: Ranking the top QBs in the 2022 NFL Draft
Second round, 52nd pick: Sean Rhyan, offensive tackle, UCLA
For as immobile as Big Ben was throughout his career, the quarterback did a great job of getting rid of the ball. Hence, why he was sacked a mere 38 times in 16 games a season ago despite suspect offensive line play. Pittsburgh relied on rookie fourth-round pick Dan Moore to protect the blindside in 2021. The Texas A&M product held up to an extent.
However, there’s no telling whether Moore projects to the left side moving forward. Either way, there’s a need at both right tackle and a long the interior of the line at guard with these Steelers. That’s where Rhyan comes into play.
At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, the former four-star recruit has an ability to play both guard and tackle. He has impressive raw power and is actually pretty darn explosive for someone his size. A move of this ilk would enable Pittsburgh to get a Day 1 starter at left guard while experimenting with the possibility of moving Moore over to right tackle with Rhyan manning the left side moving forward.
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Third round, 84th pick: Nehemiah Pritchett, cornerback, Auburn
Led by the stud safety tandem of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds, Pittsburgh’s pass defense was actually pretty good a season ago (24 touchdowns, 13 interceptions). With that said, veteran Joe Haden remains a free agent. With Cameron Sutton (104.9 passer rating allowed in 2021) the top remaining guy, this is a need.
At 6-foot-1 and with tremendous athleticism, Pritchett morphed into one of the best collegiate corners during his time with Auburn. He has the size and ball skills to be an immediate impact player for Pittsburgh. In a deep draft class at corner, that could lead to a steal in Round 3.
Fourth round, 138th overall: Romeo Doubs, wide receiver, Nevada
One of the most productive collegiate receivers heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, Dobbs recorded a combined 138 receptions for 2,111 yards and 20 touchdowns catching passes from Carson Strong over the past two seasons.
For Pittsburgh, acquiring another gem of a receiver in the mid rounds could very well be in the cards. The team lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington in free agency. It has a major need here.
Related: Top 2022 NFL Draft prospects
Filling out remainder of Pittsburgh Steelers needs
- Sixth round, 208th pick: James Empey, guard, BYU
- Seventh round, 225th pick: Amari Carter, safety, Miami (F)
- Seventh round, 241st pick: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, EDGE, Notre Dame
What do you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers draft? Let us know below with your comments and feedback.