The Steelers don’t show up in the NFL Draft until pick No. 20. Pittsburgh has plenty of wants and there could be some nice prospects available in the final third of the round.
Field Yates sees the Steelers having interest in offensive tackle Graham Barton. And there are multiple reasons why the ESPN draft analyst sees Pittsburgh choosing the former Duke standout. Then, Yates thinks the Steelers will pick up Michigan receiver Roman Wilson in the second.
First, here’s why Barton is so attractive. He can play multiple positions on the line.
And, with the Steelers offense now featuring a dual-threat quarterback (more so if Justin Fields is under center), Yates believes Barton is the top run-blocking interior lineman available.
“Graham Bartin is one of my favorite players in the entire class and one of the most versatile players in the entire class.,” Yates said this week in a teleconference with NFL writers. “So he begins his career at Duke as a center ,as a true freshman plays and plays well. (That) is hard to do as a true freshman, anywhere, Then he plays his final three years at left tackle. So the beauty of a Graham Barton is that you can draft him and just call him an offensive lineman. But he could play center, he could play guard.”
Ultimately, Yates believes a team like the Steelers will use Barton in the interior as he describes him as “the best run-blocking offensive lineman amongst the interior players in the entire draft class.”
The Steelers, under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, will add a run element with the new quarterbacks, either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. So lineman adept at run blocking on the fly can excel in the system.
“That’s the stuff that can be so demoralizing for a defense,” Yates said. “But the difference between an unscripted run that goes for five yards and unscripted run that goes for 50 yards, is the one pursuit block by an offensive lineman. So Graham Barton would help the Steelers pretty much in every way.”
Another need for the Steelers is a receiver, especially after Pittsburgh traded Diontae Johnson. The draft is loaded with talented wideouts. Mel Kiper, the ESPN draft guru, says he has eight receivers with a first-round grade and maybe another six or so he believes are second-round worthy.
Yates projected Michigan’s Roman Wilson to the Steelers in the second round.
“You’re looking for a route running machine in the second round, which is why I ended up with Roman Wilson,” Yates said. “He ran a 4.39 (time in the 40). Unbelievable kid and guy who made a ton of clutch plays for the Wolverines. He’s got serious speed, and his run after catch is right stuff was really good. (He also has) some of the most reliable hands in the entire draft class.”
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