PFF Tabs Michigan WR Roman Wilson as Perfect Day 2 Pick for Steelers

Pro Football Focus revealed a Steelers-themed mock draft using their mock draft simulator. They have Pittsburgh trading back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round and landing Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton at 26th overall.

Barton has been picking up steam as a lead candidate to the Steelers’ first-round pick in mock drafts. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, the speculation is that the Steelers will end up landing Barton at 20th overall.

“Speculation from people in the league familiar with the organization is that Graham Barton of Duke will likely be the pick,” Pauline wrote. “The reasoning is simple: Barton was an accomplished offensive tackle at Duke and projects to be a center in the NFL. The Steelers need help at both positions and Barton’s ability to line up at either makes him attractive.”

In the second round, PFF has the Steelers landing highly-touted Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson. PFF thinks the former Michigan Wolverine would be a perfect Day 2 pick for the Steelers.

“New Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson would likely have flashbacks of Tyler Lockett if he were to throw passes to Roman Wilson. The former Wolverine is an ultra-competitive downfield threat who posted a perfect 99.9 deep receiving grade last season. He also dropped only one pass among his 67 targets,” Dalton Wasserman of PFF wrote.

The Steelers have remained strongly connected to Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson throughout the scouting process. As Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Arthur Smith, and Teryl Austin trekked to Ann Arbor for Michigan pro day, they also reportedly met with Wilson before Michigan’s pro day. That’s just another string of interest from Wilson to Pittsburgh.

The first obvious sign of interest was when Wilson had himself an impressive week at Senior Bowl practice. He started off the season on a hot streak and seemed primed for a statistically dominant season, but as the Wolverines shifted towards more of a rushing attack, his numbers just naturally fell. But that has not discouraged the Steelers.

And before Wednesday’s practice that week, Wilson got a challenge from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin pulled Wilson and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell aside, two of the most dominant players from day one of the Senior Bowl, and told them to go against each other throughout practice. They did just that, creating a highlight reel play for Wilson.

“I was coming through and Mike Tomlin pulled both of aside and told us to make sure we go against each other,” Wilson told Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now at the Senior Bowl. “We took that a little too serious. We did every single one-on-one rep together. He is very competitive and it was great going against him. As soon as he stepped up at the end of practice, I knew he was going to call me out.”

Wilson and Mitchell both have met with the Steelers multiple times at the Senior Bowl. For Wilson, he has met with them twice. Mitchell’s was an unspecified amount, but it’s clear that the team is continuing their interest from throughout the entire college football season.

“Meeting Mike Tomlin, I mean he’s a great guy,” Wilson said. “Sometimes at events like this, it’s crazy to see a guy like that come over to you. You wouldn’t think a guy like would talk to you. Then you realize you’re at this level. But he’s been awesome.”

But Wilson and himself wanted to go at it because Tomlin challenged them, and they would oblige.

“He’s not just saying that because he wants to come here and watch,” Wilson said. “He’s saying that because right now he’s a DB that’s playing well, and I’m a receiver that’s playing really good. We’re just going to make each other better.”