Pro Football Talk Projects Steelers to Draft NDSU QB Trey Lance

Pro Football Talk has released their one and only mock draft, and it is incredibly optimistic for Pittsburgh.

PFT projects the Pittsburgh Steelers to select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance with the 24th pick in the first round.

“The Steelers are all in on trying to win in 2021, but will they be able to say no to a guy who could take the baton from Ben Roethlisberger? I’ve heard they’ll take Alabama running back Najee Harris or Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins in this spot,” Mike Florio writes. “But if Lance slides, Art Rooney will have to decide whether to give his third coach since 1969 the team’s fourth first-round quarterback since 1970.”

While it would be an absolute steal and stroke of luck for Pittsburgh to find their quarterback of the future at the tail end of the first round, the chance of that happening is slim to none. Especially a quarterback of Lance’s pedigree.

Lance had a superb 2019 campaign, passing for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns with no interceptions. He was just as dominant with his legs rushing for 1,100 yards and 14 more scores.

He was awarded the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding player at the FCS level.

In reality, Lance will likely be taken in the first ten selections, and has even been projected to go as high as No. 3 to the San Francisco 49ers.

Still, Florio and the PFT can give Pittsburghers a reason to dream, can’t they?