Steelers Trade Up for Tackle in 2-Round PFF Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to land an impact tackle in the latest three-round mock draft by Pro Football Focus.

In the mock draft published Tuesday by Michael Renner, the Steelers moved up five spots from pick No. 17 to No. 12 in order to secure Georgia tackle Broderick Jones, the last of the top tackles remaining on the draft board.

Renner predicted that Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright will go to the Chicago Bears at No. 9, Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski will go to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 10 and Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr. to the Tennessee Titans at No. 11, prompting the Steelers to move up the board.

The Steelers had to trade their first-round pick at No. 17, third round pick at No. 80 and fourth-round pick at No. 120 for the right to draft Jones.

Other players still on the board in this scenario were defensive linemen Calijah Kancey (Pitt) and Bryan Bresee (Clemson), edge rushers Nolan Smith (Georgia) and Will McDonald IV (Iowa State), wide receivers Jordan Addison (Pitt), Quentin Johnston (TCU) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State), cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State) and Devon Witherspoon (Illinois).

RELATED: Don’t Expect Steelers to Land Top Tackle at No. 17

“The Steelers saw the tackle run and decided to flip Pick Nos. 17, 80 and 120 to jump the tackle-needy Jets for Broderick Jones,” Renner wrote. “He could truthfully replace either of the Steelers’ starters on the outside from last year.”

In the second round, Renner predicted the Steelers will take edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah from Kansas State at pick No. 32, taking him over Alabama safety Brian Branch, Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders, Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones and Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks.

The Steelers did take care of cornerback one pick later, landing South Carolina’s Cam smith at No. 49 overall.