Steelers load up the line in latest seven-round mock draft
A mock “heavy” on the trenches.
Within 50 days of the 2023 NFL Draft, mock drafts are in full swing from a variety of publications.
The latest is a full, seven-round mock draft from The Athletic and Steelers writer Mark Kaboly.
We're going to specifically dive into picks 32 and 49 respectively, analyzing the back-to-back offensive lineman he's mocked to Pittsburgh.
First up at 32nd overall, Kaboly has Pittsburgh selecting:
O'Cyrus Torrence, Guard, Florida.
Torrence is an old school, heavy guard best situated to create gaps in the run game and hold up at the point of attack against stout defenders.
Measuring over six-foot-five and 330 pounds at the NFL Combine, Torrence won't blow you away athletically, but his movement skills are above average for someone of his stature.
Widely regarded as the best interior lineman in his class, Torrence may hear his name called on night one in April.
But with the draft process being so fluid, and Torrence currently ranked 29th on the consensus board, There is a chance he's available at 32, making him a must-have on the Steelers board.
Now to pick 49. Kaboly has the Steelers taking:
Matthew Bergeron, Tackle, Syracuse.
Bergeron was also invited to the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, performing well at the two most important pre-draft events.
Lined up against Derick Hall here, Bergeron flashes sudden feet and functional strength, kick sliding in perfect rhythm while finishing the talented edge rusher from Auburn.
Carrying just under 320 pounds in a six-foot-five frame, Bergeron is a smooth mover.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network was in awe of this rep, with Bergeron displaying Sunday athleticism.
Offensive tackles have to handle some of the freakiest athletes on the planet in edge rushers. Mixtures of speed, power, and length, there is a reason why they are so coveted every draft cycle.
So to see Bergeron handle everything that's been thrown at him with ease, it gives you hope for his projection as an NFL tackle.
Kaboly is certainly ahead of the consensus here, having Bergeron go at 49 while he sits at 72 in the mock draft database.
I would have to side with Kaboly on this one, as Bergeron is one of the prospects most likely to be a "riser" over the evaluation stage.
While it may be unlikely, it's not entirely impossible to envision a scenario where Pittsburgh goes back-to-back on the line that early in the draft.
The needs up front are well documented, and if the corner position is addressed in the first round, then there's a chance the board falls in a way not too dissimilar to Kaboly's mock.
Nothing is more important in Pittsburgh than the development of Kenny Pickett. With above-average pass catchers on the perimeter and a lead back behind him, it's only right to secure the unit up front.
Once that puzzle is solved, only then can the Steelers decipher if they have a franchise quarterback.
