Steelers post Week 1 free agency three round mock draft: Pittsburgh selects their next great WR

While it was one of the more active free agency weeks in the history of the Steelers, their big moves surrounded the QB position.  And while there's still time to address other needs in free agency, the NFL Draft is fast approaching with a little over a month until things kick off on Thursday night […]

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Texas Longhorns wide receivers Adonai Mitchell (5) and Xavier Worthy (1) celebrate a touchdown by Mitchell during the Big 12 Championship game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at AT&T stadium on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 in Arlington.
© Aaron E. Martinez / USA TODAY NETWORK

While it was one of the more active free agency weeks in the history of the Steelers, their big moves surrounded the QB position. 

And while there's still time to address other needs in free agency, the NFL Draft is fast approaching with a little over a month until things kick off on Thursday night in Detriot. 

With that in mind, the heavy lifting now shifts towards the draft, especially now that Pittsburgh is armed with two third-round picks thanks to the Kenny Pickett trade. 

Round 1, 20th overall: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell 

Mitchell's former Texas teammate Xavier Worthy may have stolen the show in Indianapolis when he ran a record-breaking 4.21 forty-yard dash, but Mitchell had one of the better overall showings given the fact he heighted and weighed in over 6-2 and 200 pounds, yet jumped nearly 40 inches in the vert and ran a 4.34 in the forty. 

And unlike Worthy, Mitchell more closely resembles the size that Pittsburgh looks for in their pass catchers, while also presenting a vertical and jump ball skill set that the team needs opposite of George Pickens

Round 2, 51st Overall: Michigan CB Mike Sainristil

Pittsburgh may have addressed the outside CB position with the trade of WR Diontae Johnson, but they still need a nickel defender or slot CB to run the defense the way they want to, leaving Mike Sainristill as the perfect option. 

His tenacity, ball skills given his history as a WR, and playstyle that self admittedly models his game after former Steelers CB Mike Hilton should have him fitting like a glove in the black and gold. 

Round 3, 84 Overall: Georgia S Javon Bullard

While the Steelers found their starting safety opposite of Minkah Fitzpatrick during free agency, the more versatile and multiple your defensive backfield can be, the better off your defense is. 

And that's what Bullard brings to Pittsburgh. They can get into big nickel or three safety packages with him and not fear a loss of physicality, even if they want to run it as base personnel while the LB group heals up. 

Round 3, 98th overall: Kansas OL Dominick Puni

Puni may be listed as a guard, but he more closely resembles the body types that Pittsburgh targets at center, and he has the skillset and athleticism to play the position on a functional level. 

And after a week that saw Pittsburgh pass on all the top free agents at center, it's not a question of if Pittsburgh will draft one, but when, opening the door for a player like Puni should Pittsburgh wait until day two of the draft. 

Related Articles