The Pittsburgh Steelers could go any number of directions with their first-round pick. Before free agency, they had enough of a need for about seven different positions to where you can at least argue that the position will be the pick. However, tackle, cornerback, and center seem to rise above the rest in terms of likelihood. But a linebacker is needed given Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander’s injuries.
And Chad Reuter of NFL Network has the Steelers addressing linebacker in the first round in his latest mock draft, but it’s not the player you would expect. No, it’s Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace who would be a stunner of a first-round pick from the team.
“Wallace’s speed and tenaciousness will be appreciated by Steelers coaches and fans after seeing the linebacker corps decimated by injuries last season,” Reuter wrote.
Since his mock was three rounds long, he had the Steelers landing tackle Amarius Mims in the second round and cornerback T.J. Tampa in the third round. If you, after reading this, think this pick would have looked a lot better if you had flipped Mims and Wallace, you are probably right. Wallace is a good player, but is he a first-round player? That’s hard to say with Edgerrin Cooper and Junior Colson also in this draft class.
But Wallace’s tenacity and smarts would be a great fit in the middle of the defense, and he feels like someone who could come in and start early in his career.
Mims at 51 would be a steal. What sticks out about Mims so much? He is a high-end talent with beautiful footwork and an ability to get out in space and work. Honestly, his tape is a little bit more polished than you would think compared to Jones, especially with the level of experience that Mims has in college.
It’s not a slam dunk pick, but a guy like Mims wouldn’t make it to 20th overall in most years. So, to get him at 51 would be a coup. This year is so deep and has top talent at other positions like wide receiver and cornerback that it’s feasible. And it would be a fantastic pick for the Steelers.
