It’s almost time for one of the most exciting events on the football calendar, the NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers get the honor of hosting this year’s draft in the Steel City, and they have the most picks in the entire league with 12 selections. There’s a chance that they could make a trade, because they won’t be signing 12 rookies. This draft is going to be fun for the Steelers. Here’s my second mock of what this year’s draft class could look like through three rounds.
Round 1 Pick 21: Jordyn Tyson
Jordyn Tyson is one of the most intriguing prospects in this class. He is a hell of a receiver, but his injury history could scare teams away. He didn’t get to work out at the NFL Combine or Arizona State’s pro day, but he plans to hold a workout for teams on April 17th. Tyson has dealt with ACL, MCL, and PCL tears in 2022 and a lingering hamstring injury last season. He shone in 2024 when he was healthy, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards and ten touchdowns. His NFL player comparison is Terry McLaurin, according to NFL.com. DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr, and Tyson are a scary trio.
Round 2 Pick 53: Gennings Dunker
It’s no secret that the Steelers need help on the offensive line. Specifically, they need help at the guard position. Signing Brock Hoffman was huge, but it’s safe to assume it’s still on the ledger for the draft. Selecting Gennings Dunker from Iowa in the second round would be a great pick. He has a pro-ready frame, but he isn’t that athletic. The Steelers could push him into guard, where they have a glaring hole. They don’t have a great history of changing offensive lineman positions, but this is a new coaching staff, and things could be different. Pittsburgh is going to love this guy if they take him.
Round 3 Pick 76: Kyle Louis
The Steelers are slightly thin at linebacker, and Kyle Louis could come in and help. He is similar to Patrick Queen. Louis is undersized, but anybody who watched him at Pitt knows he’s a playmaker. The former All-American has great speed and athleticism, running a 4.53 40-yard dash. Louis can lurk in the zone or cling to a route runner. There is no reason why he can’t be a versatile sub-package defender. He has the speed and cover talent. Any team can use that. Keep him in the same facility.
Round 3 Pick 85: Drew Allar
The Drew Allar lottery ticket is worth taking in the third round. At 6’5 and 228 pounds, he is exactly what Mike McCarthy is looking for in a quarterback. The kid looks like he was made in a quarterback factory, but his college tape shows that he could be slightly defective at times. If McCarthy can inject a brain into the scarecrow, or make him believe that he already has one, Allar can be a weapon. By cleaning up a few areas of his game, he can be a great NFL quarterback. Sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for a year would also be great for his development.
Round 3 Pick 99: Markel Bell
Markel Bell is a mountain of a human. He’s basically a Ford Escape in cleats. Bell stands at 6’9 and 346 pounds, and he uses his length remarkably well. If the Steelers don’t believe that Broderick Jones is their guy, it’s time to start finding his replacement, although it feels tough to make that call right now. Selecting Bell in the third round also provides Pittsburgh with some depth on the outside of their offensive line.
End Of My Steelers Rant
It would be ideal if the Steelers could land Olaivavega Ioane at 21, but there is a slim chance that he falls that far. He is one of the most sure-fire prospects in this draft. Aside from him, Tyson at 21 would be a fever dream for Mike McCarthy. The weaponry would be fabulous for whoever the quarterback is, presumably Aaron Rodgers. It would be a massive upgrade over last season. If Pittsburgh can walk out of round three with these selections, the draft would be a home run. Then they still have seven picks remaining. This is going to be fun.
