Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft: ESPN follows familiar script for Steelers in Round 1

For those who follow mock drafts, there are a couple things which are known. First, some mock drafts carry more weight than others. In this instance, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN will always garner more attention than a myriad of other people who produce mock drafts. Next, and lastly, people who consume mock drafts can’t get enough.

That is why mock drafts in the early stages of the league year, before free agency, don’t make a ton of sense considering how team needs can change drastically based on moves made when free agents become available.

Nonetheless, when Mel Kiper does a mock draft, people take notice. Kiper’s latest mock draft has him following a very familiar script for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In other words, Kiper was going to take the best wide receiver available when pick No. 21 rolls around.

Let’s see Kiper’s Round 1, and how things unfolded before the Steelers pick:

Round 1

1. Tennessee Titans – Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State
2. Cleveland Browns – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
3. New York Giants – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
4. New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
7. New York Jets – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
8. Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
9. New Orleans Saints – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
10. Chicago Bears – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
11. San Francisco 49ers – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
12. Dallas Cowboys – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
13. Miami Dolphins – Armand Membou, OT/G, Missouri
14. Indianapolis Colts – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
15. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, OLB, Marshall
16. Arizona Cardinals – Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Mykel Williams, OLB, Georgia
18. Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
20. Denver Broncos – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

“I personally still have McMillan ranked ahead of Egbuka, but there is a lot of buzz around the latter in the NFL right now. Scouts love his route running, sure hands and approach to the game. He’s coming off an 81-catch, 1,011-yard, 10-touchdown season, and he’d fit perfectly opposite George Pickens in Pittsburgh. Pickens was the only Steelers receiver over 550 receiving yards this past season. It doesn’t really matter who is playing quarterback for them next season if they can’t give that passer more options in the offense. And if Egbuka runs well this week, he might be the perfect solution.”

Want to know more about Egbuka as a prospect? Check out the breakdown from our own Andrew Wilbar below:

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs
Draft Projection: Mid to Late 1st Round
Notable Accomplishment: Most receptions of any receiver in OSU history

Pros: Egbuka is one of the most NFL-ready prospects in this draft, thanks to his longevity at Ohio State. Despite being the WR2 in about every offense he played in, he kept an overabundance of attention from going to the WR1, whether it was Marvin Harrison, Jr. or Jeremiah Smith. He was the glue to a talented receiver room, and his consistency made him a true security blanket for his quarterback. One of the smoothest route-runners in the class, Egbuka makes clean cuts and displays a quick release off the line. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of his game is catching the ball in traffic. Egbuka has made several acrobatic, highlight-reel catches during his time in college, and it is hard to imagine we do not see more of it at the NFL level, considering his outstanding body control and field awareness. His hands, field vision, and instincts are all impressive as well, but what I appreciate about his game the most is his blocking effort. He is not “above” the task of blocking, and he has improved as a blocker each year.

Cons: Medicals will be one of the major talking points with Egbuka, as he suffered multiple lower-body injuries during his collegiate career. I also have concerns about Egbuka’s versatility. When looking at his numbers in the slot compared to his numbers on the perimeter, there is a significant drop in both production and efficiency when he aligns on the outside. Egbuka typically got off the line just fine against press coverage, but he lacks an ideal wingspan, and my fear is that longer press corners will out-leverage him in press and force him off his route.

Overview: I am not sure Egbuka will ever become an elite receiver in the NFL, but he certainly provides enough consistency and upside to warrant a first-round selection. Although his body type and play style is not an exact match of Calvin Ridley’s, his trajectory is similar to that of the former Crimson Tide receiver coming out of college. He can be an immediate contributor, but his ceiling may not be that of a CeeDee Lamb or Ja’Marr Chase.

NFL Comparison: A more physical Calvin Ridley

If this is how Round 1 played out for the Steelers, and based on players who were still available when they pick, how would you feel about it? Would you be okay with it? Were there prospects you’d like them to pick instead of the Ohio State receiver? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the start of the new league year next week.