With the 2017 NFL Draft now just a little more than two weeks away, ESPN analyst Todd McShay figured Wednesday was an appropriate time for him to release a full three-round mock that includes him making every selection for all 32 teams if he were the one calling the shots
For the Pittsburgh Steelers four selections in the first three rounds, McShay has them drafting three defensive players in addition to one on the offensive side of the football.
In the first round, McShay has the Steelers selecting Wisconsin edge-rusher T.J. Watt at 30th overall and he writes:
Watt continues to move up the board, despite having just one year of notable production at linebacker after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2014 and undergoing a position change from tight end. He has the frame (6-4, 252) and athleticism (4.69 40, 10-8 broad jump) to continue to develop as a pass-rusher.
It’s easy to connect the Steelers to Watt being as the team has showed quite a bit of interest in him during the entire pre-draft process. If you were to knock Watt any at this point it would probably be due to his overall lack of college experience on the defensive side of the football.
In the second round, McShay has the Steelers selecting UCLA cornerback Fabian Moreau and he writes:
Moreau needs to improve his ball skills, but he has top-tier coverage ability and physical tools.
Moreau, who needed surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle that he suffered while bench pressing during his pro-day workout, will reportedly need four to six months to recover. In short, he’s expected to be ready to play come the start of the 2017 regular season.
In the third round, McShay has the Steelers picking Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone with their first of two selections and he writes:
Anzalone played just one full season at Florida. I’m intrigued by his range against the run and in coverage, though.
Anzalone, who measured in at this year’s scouting combine at 6027, 241-pounds, registered 53 total tackles and three sacks last season, his first full one as a starter, which wound up being cut short by a broken arm. He lost several games to injuries during his college career.
With the Steelers second pick in the third round, McShay has them selecting Baylor wide receiver K.D. Cannon and he writes:
Cannon is an underdeveloped route-runner, but he has the toughness, quickness and top-end speed to develop into a productive slot receiver, which Pittsburgh needs.
Cannon, who measured in at this years scouting combine at 5110, 182-pounds, caught 195 passes for 3,113 yards and 27 touchdowns in the 38 games he played at Baylor. He ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.41 seconds and posted a 37-inch vertical jump as well.
