NFL Draft analyst: Draft 'sets up really nicely' for Steelers' offensive needs

The Steelers haven’t been without a first-round draft pick since 1967. But with the way things are lining up for this week’s NFL Draft, 2020 may not be a bad year for that to be the case.

That seems to be the assessment of at least one draft analyst I speak with every year.

Luke Easterling writes for Draft Wire. It is the yearlong draft site for USA Today’s Touchdown Wire platforms. And for 19 seasons, Easterling has been doing an excellent job tracking draft activity and prospects year-round.

Every year, Easterling joins me to preview the draft over two days for our “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. We’ll take a look at the offensive side of the ball Wednesday and defense on Thursday.

Easterling says, despite trading their first-round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Steelers are still likely to walk away happy from this year’s draft haul.

“It sets up really nicely for Pittsburgh,” Easterling said. “All three of the positions that I’d point to as a deep position in the middle of the second round are all on offense and all positions I think Pittsburgh really needs to address. It’s going to fall quite nicely for them if it goes the way I expect.”

Easterling is pointing specifically to wide receiver, offensive line and running back.

“Everybody has been talking about how deep this wide receiver class is for almost the entire year,” he said. “Even back into college football season, we’ve been talking about the potential that this class has had. I’ve got 17 wide receivers in the top 100.

“There are going to be starting-caliber wide receivers on the board in the fourth round.”

TCU’s Jalen Reagor has been a receiver who has been frequently slotted to the Steelers. Easterling seems to think he’ll be gone by the Steelers’ selection at No. 49.

He makes USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. sound like the pass catcher who could be the best available fit for the Steelers in that range.

“He’s a very complete wide receiver,” Easterling said. “You don’t see guys that big (6-foot-4/220 pounds) with long arms, a physical playing style, with 4.5 flat speed. He’s really a complete player. He’s a guy that blocks down the field — something the Steelers value. He just does everything well. It is hard to point out a fault in his game.”

And if the Steelers lean running back instead? Easterling claims to have six or seven backs with first-round grades. But he doesn’t see a lot of teams selecting backs early.

Easterling is particularly high on Florida State’s Cam Akers as a good option for the middle of the second round. Akers flashed with the Seminoles (1,144 yards, 5.0 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns) despite having an offensive line that was well below the standard normally seen in Tallahassee.

“He did a lot with very little at Florida State,” Easterling said. “He’s a complete player. Can catch the ball coming out of the backfield. He’s got that extra gear in the open field. He can make big plays and run away from defenses. He’s still compact and physical (5-foot-11/212 pounds), enough beef to run between the tackles and not get banged up.”

Some think that the Steelers may go with an offensive lineman. It’s not too early to think about successors for Maurkice Pouncey and Alejandro Villanueva. Also, guards Ramon Foster and B.J. Finney are gone. The club signed Stefen Wisniewski in the offseason, but depth is needed.

“Most of the value (at guard and center) is when the third round kicks off,” Easterling said. “There are going to be starting-caliber players available into the fourth round. A lot of fantastic options right where the Steelers need them.”

Easterling and I also dive into what the Steelers could’ve been looking at for a tight end had they not signed Eric Ebron, any temptations they might have at quarterback and some of the challenges that face general managers because of the covid-19 circumstances that limited scouting.

Listen: Tim Benz and Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling break down potential draftees who might fit with the Steelers