The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading up for Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral in NFL.com’s Chad Rueter’s seven-round mock draft. Corral is a favorite to be selected by the Steelers according to odds makers and experts, but many aren’t expecting the team to have to trade up from No. 20 to get him. However, that could be possible as Maurice Jones-Drew’s latest mock draft actually sees the New Orleans Saints trade up to No. 10 to select Corral before the Steelers can get him. In Rueter’s draft, the Steelers trade with the Minnesota Vikings to select Corral at No. 12.
“The Steelers jump ahead of potential quarterback-takers Houston, Philadelphia and New Orleans to lasso Corral,” wrote Rueter. “They send the Vikings the 20th overall pick, as well as 2023 first- and fourth-rounders, to move up eight spots, as GM Kevin Colbert sets the team up for future success before he departs…”
“Most evaluate Corral based on the offense he ran at Ole Miss, but he’s not limited to the types of throws he was asked to make in that system. His quick release, mobility and toughness give him a chance to excel in a revamped offense brought to bear by Steelers coordinator Matt Canada in 2022.”
The Steelers take Corral over Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder in the mock draft, who goes the New Orleans Saints at No. 16. Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett is selected No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions while Liberty’s Malik Willis is selected No. 6 overall by the Carolina Panthers. North Carolina’s Sam Howell was the fifth and final quarterback selected in the first round. He was taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 32 pick currently held by the Detroit Lions. Rueter has the price for Howell significantly smaller than the price for Corral, with the Seahawks giving up the 40th overall pick and a fourth-rounder (No. 109) to select Howell.
The Steelers follow up the Corral pick by taking Auburn corner back Roger McCreary (second round) and Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross (third round) on day two. On the third and final day of the draft, the Steelers round out their 2022 draft class with Auburn safety Smoke Monday (fourth round), Michigan State tight end Connor Heyward (sixth round), Southern Utah State offensive tackle Braxton Jones (seventh round) and Boston College center Alex Lindstrom (seventh round). All players excluding Heyward, who is the younger brother of Steelers’ defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, could help fill a position of need for the team.