The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently scheduled to make three selections during the final day of the 2018 NFL Draft with two of those coming in the fifth-round and one other in the seventh-round. All that in mind and based on what the team has already drafted and what they perceptibly still need, or use, here are some Day Three options the team could be targeting. Of course, these are not all the options either and they are not in any kind of order.
Edge rushers
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo/Oklahoma
Why It Could Happen: Undersized and older, but can really get after opposing quarterbacks. Senior Bowl participant to boot.
Jeff Holland/Auburn
Why It Could Happen: Makes up for lack of uber athleticism with good hand usage. Fun to watch get after the quarterback and played in the SEC.
Joe Ostman/Central Michigan
Why It Could Happen: Very productive edge rusher with not very good measurables. Played in the East-West Shrine game and represented self week during the practices.
Defensive linemen
Bilal Nichols/Delaware
Why It Could Happen: Nichols not only played in both the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine game, the Steelers also had him come to Pittsburgh for a pre-draft visit. The team needs a backup defensive tackle that can get after opposing quarterbacks and Nichols had 12 sacks at Delaware.
Greg Gilmore/LSU
Why It Could Happen: Gilmore, like Nichols, was also a Senior Bowl participate and he also was brought in for a pre-draft visit. He played in the SEC and 10 sacks.
Inside Linebackers
Genard Avery/Memphis
Why It Could Happen: Again, the Memphis connection. Inside/outside versatility and – no surprise here – a quality athlete. Whopping 44.5 TFL, 21.5 sacks, the latter of which he had 8.5 as a senior.
Shaquem Griffin/UCF
Why It Could Happen: This would have shades of drafting James Conner last year. Griffin, like Conner, is more than just a good story. Like Terrell Edmunds, I can see Tomlin/Colbert talk about all the ways you can get him on the field. And you know he’s driven to succeed.
Matthew Thomas/FSU
Why It Could Happen: Thomas posted a pSPARQ number of 148.6 at the combine and was a eyeteeth-year starter at FSU. He played on the weak side and totaled 192 tackles. He will turn 23 soon, however.
Joel Iyiegbuniwe/Western Kentucky
Why It Could Happen: The Steelers had enough interest in Iyiegbuniwe to bring him in for a pre-draft visit.
Jermaine Carter Jr./Maryland
Why It Could Happen: Carter is another little bit older inside linebacker the Steelers brought in for a pre-draft visit. He had 320 total tackles in four seasons at Maryland and 9.5 sacks.
Running backs
Kalen Ballage/Arizona State
Why It Could Happen: One of the few running backs the Steelers showed any real viable interest in. He was at the Senior Bowl and running backs coach James Saxon went to his pro day.
Wide receivers
WR Russell Gage Jr./LSU
Why It Could Happen: Gritty wide receiver that can play special teams. Raw, but has a lot of upside and the Steelers brought him in for a pre-draft visit. Could be a special teams demon to boot.
Cornerbacks
Avonte Maddox/Pittsburgh
Why It Could Happen: An undersized, gritty cornerback with decent production. Team leader and also played in a college all-star game. The Steelers already know quite a bit about him. He fits as a project slot corner. 132.9 pSPARQ is impressive.
Grant Haley/Penn State
Why It Could Happen: See Maddox. It’s the same situation with Haley as it is with Maddox. While undersized, he checks off a lot of the other boxes required to be a later-round draft pick. 123.4 pSPARQ score.
Tight ends
Durham Smythe/Notre Dame
Why It Could Happen: Senior Bowl participant and a classic “Y” tight end. Better than average run blocker and potential special teams helper.
Troy Fumagalli/Wisconsin
Why It Could Happen: Senior Bowl participant and like Smythe, might survive in NFL as a second tight end because of blocking ability.
