Every year mock drafts can become monotonous, especially around this time of year, where we’ve already seen hundreds and hundreds of mocks landing the same few players in each one for your favorite team.
That’s already happened for the Steelers since the season came to a sad halt on January 16, but thanks to NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund, she’s changing things up a bit when it comes to mock drafts. Instead of doing what’s best for each franchise long term in her first-round mock, Frelund takes a unique approach, going with picks that help each team win now.
Knowing that, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Frelund doesn’t pair the Pittsburgh Steelers with a quarterback in her first mock, considering the Steelers aren’t a QB away from being true contenders. Instead, Frelund takes the route of building through the trenches, landing the Steelers a young, moldable piece of clay along the offensive line.
The name should be familiar to many at this point in the draft process: Central Michigan offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann.
“The biggest strategic benefit would be to fill this spot in free agency,” Frelund writes. “But the highest win-share scenario for the Steelers is to add versatility to the O-line in the draft — especially with this developing talent, who has already flashed high upside and carries markers showing he can play both inside and outside. PFF shows Raimann only allowed 10 pressures on passing downs last season.”
