Fresh off the release of his annual draft guide, analyst Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout has now released a full seven-round mock draft. His seven selections for the Pittsburgh Steelers includes five defensive players and two offensive players.
Brugler, not surprisingly, has the Steelers selecting Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans with the 28th overall selection in this year’s draft and he writes of the selection:
With Ryan Shazier’s future up in the air, linebacker is a need and Evans looks like a AFC North linebacker with his physical appetite.
We have posted quite a bit about Evans possibly being the Steelers first-round selection this year so there’s no use spending a lot of time on him in the recap of this mega-mock draft.
In the second-round of his mock Brugler has the Steelers selecting USC defensive lineman Rasheem Green with the 60th overall pick of the draft.
Green, who measured in at this year’s scouting combine at 6042, 275-pounds, ran his 40-yard-dash in 4.73-seconds while in Indianapolis. In his three seasons at USC, Green registered 115 total tackles of which 20 resulted in losses. He also had 16.5 sacks during his college career with 10 of those coming last season. He also totaled 8 defensed passes and 3 forced fumbles during his college career. At just 275-pounds, Green would likely have to gain some weight in order to play defensive end for the Steelers. Additionally, it would be hard for him to get much playing time during his rookie season. In short, Brugler’s selection of Green for the Steelers might be his most dubious one of this entire mock.
In the third-round, Brugler has the Steelers selecting Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington with the 92nd overall selection.
Washington is definitely on the Steelers draft board this year for numerous reasons. They met with him at the Senior Bowl in addition to at this year’s scouting combine where he measured in at 5110, 213-pounds and ran his 40-yard-dash in 4.54-seconds. In his four seasons at Oklahoma State, Washington averaged 19.8 yards per reception as part of him catching 226 passes for 4,472 yards and 39 touchdowns. For what it’s worth, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin were both at this year’s Oklahoma State pro day.
In the fifth-round of his mega-mock, Brugler has the Steelers selecting Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden with the 148th overall selection.
McFadden, who measured in at the scouting combine at 6022, 204-pounds, ran his 40-yard-dash in a very disappointing 4.67-seconds. In his three seasons at FSU, McFadden registered 53 total tackles, 8 interceptions and 16 total passes defensed. All 8 of his interceptions came during the 2016 season. Quite honestly, McFadden might have to see if he can transition to safety if e wants a chance to make it at the NFL level. His measurables won’t excite the Steelers based on their history related to the drafting of defensive backs.
Also in the fifth-round, Brugler has the Steelers selecting Mississippi edge-rusher Marquis Haynes with the 165th overall selection.
Haynes, who measured in at the combine at 6023, 235-pounds, ran his 40-yard-dash in 4.67-seconds and posted a three-cone time of 7.14-seconds to go along with a short-shuttle time of 4.45-seconds. In his four seasons at Mississippi, Haynes registered 172 total tackles of which 47.5 resulted in lost yardage. He also had 32 sacks in his four seasons in addition to 7 defensed passes and 12 forced fumbles. Haynes is a very unrefined pass-rusher and he struggles against the run.
Brugler closes out the Steelers picks with them taking Texas A&M safety Armani Watts and Notre Dame running back Josh Adams in the seventh-round with overall selections 220 and 246, respectively.
Watts, who measured in at the combine at 5104, 202-pounds, reportedly ran his 40-yard-dash at his pro day in 4.64-seconds after failing to run it in Indianapolis. The free safety prospect registered 324 total tackles and 10 interceptions in his four seasons at Texas A&M.
As for Adams, who measured in at the combine at 6015, 213-pounds, he rushed for 3,201 yards and 20 touchdowns on 480 total carries in his three seasons at Notre Dame. He also caught 41 passes for 336 yards and 2 touchdowns during his college career.
