The Pittsburgh Steelers have five picks remaining in this year’s NFL Draft, which concludes Saturday with rounds four to seven.
They’ve already addressed many of their top needs by adding an offensive tackle, wide receiver, quarterback, cornerback and guard during the first two days. So, what might they target next? Safety and tight end remain positions of need, plus they may look to add another young receiver to their growing group of pass catchers.
The Steelers have one pick in the fourth round (No. 121), one in the fifth (No. 161) and three in the seventh (Nos. 224, 230 and 249). The team traded away two of its Day 3 picks to move up twice on Friday.
At safety, newly signed free agent Jaquan Brisker and returning veteran DeShon Elliott, who’s returning from injury, top the depth chart with little depth behind them. Fortunately for the Steelers, safety is a rather deep position in this year’s draft.
Four safeties rank among the 22 best remaining prospects overall when Round 4 starts, according to ESPN. At least three met with the Steelers at the NFL Combine: South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore, Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley and Arizona’s Genesis Smith. Those three plus USC safety Kamari Ramsey are potentially early picks on Day 3.
Tight end is another area of need for the Steelers. They had four on last year’s roster, but Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward are now elsewhere. Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington return, but the Steelers likely will add another.
N.C. State’s Justin Joly (6-4, 241), Texas’ Jack Endries (6-5, 245) and Cincinnati’s Joe Royer (6-5, 247) are the best available tight ends, according to ESPN. Two options who’d visited the Steelers — Michigan’s Marlin Klein and Ohio State’s Will Kacmarek — were both already drafted.
The best remaining wide receiver had a pre-draft visit with the Steelers. UConn’s Skyler Bell (6-0, 192), a consensus All-American, was in Pittsburgh on April 8. Joining Bell among the top remaining receivers are Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt, Oklahoma’s Deion Burks, North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance and Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr.
According to ESPN, the best available player overall is Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was originally projected as a first rounder. McCoy missed last season to a torn ACL. Lingering health concerns seem to be keeping teams away.
Other top options on the draft board are Miami (Fla.) cornerback Keionte Scott, Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad and Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis ranks as the 15th best available player.
Round 4 starts with pick 101. In all, 257 players will be drafted.