Steelers Select Alabama C Landon Dickerson in Latest NFL.com Mock Draft

NFL Network’s Peter Schrager has released his first mock draft of the year, and is projecting the Pittsburgh Steelers to address a significant need in the first round.

Schrager has the Steelers drafting Alabama center Landon Dickerson with the 24th selection. Dickerson would fill a significant need, replacing Maurkice Pouncey, who retired back on Feb. 12.

“The ACL tear in the SEC Championship Game will scare off a lot of teams, but if Pittsburgh needs anything, it’s a way to immediately address an ailing run game,” Schrager writes. “Dickerson is supposed to be healthy by the start of the season. Will he be anything close to Maurkice Pouncey? Of course not … yet.”

Dickerson did suffer a torn ACL in the SEC Championship game, but his recovery seems to be going just fine, but it was the second ACL injury of his career. He has also suffered significant ankle problems in the past.

Landon Dickerson tore his ACL in the SEC Championship Game.

Today, he’s doing cartwheels in the middle of Mac Jones' interview 😂 pic.twitter.com/PU6u9F5f8O

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 30, 2021

Listed at 6-foot-6, 333 pounds, Dickerson is a mauler in the interior of the offensive line adept at both run and pass blocking.

While the physical tools are impressive, he truly separates himself with his intangibles. Not only is Dickerson smart, but he also displayed the outstanding leadership skills teams covet during his time in Tuscaloosa.

A unanimous First-Team All-American in 2020, Dickerson was also named First-Team All-SEC and awarded the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the nation’s top center. Dickerson originally began his career at Florida State before graduate transferring to Alabama.

The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 29 in Cleveland.