Tim Benz, Matt Williamson’s NFL Draft preview: Stocked group of offensive linemen will test Steelers' faith in current depth chart

In advance of the NFL Draft (April 29-May 1), “Breakfast With Benz” is spending this week publishing daily Pittsburgh Steelers previews and podcasts.

We are breaking down the franchise’s needs into five different sections. Each day, former college and NFL scout Matt Williamson (Steelers radio contributor/“Peacock and Williamson NFL Show”) joins me to analyze the prospective talent within a given position group.

We also discuss potential Steelers targets, organizational needs and draft strategy.

In Wednesday’s post, we look at the offensive line.

If there’s one position group in the NFL Draft that is confounding to analyze for the Steelers, it’s the offensive line.

Let’s get the easy stuff out of the way. David DeCastro is back and Kevin Dotson looks promising, so I doubt we’ll see the Steelers go with a guard in the early rounds.

Tackle and center are cloudy, though. What I think, what Matt Williamson thinks and what I bet many Steelers fans think might not align with what the Steelers think.

I certainly believe the Steelers can do better than J.C. Hassenauer or B.J. Finney at center. Also, the Steelers appear to be attacking the tackle position with a quantity of players. But I wonder if they have enough of the right ones?

Right now, that combination is some grouping of Chuks Okorafor, a rehabilitating Zach Banner, ex-Tampa Bay pickup Joe Haeg and recently signed journeyman Aviante Collins.

Oh, and a potentially returning Alejandro Villanueva. That is, of course, unless he goes to the Baltimore Ravens.

At tackle, that’s a lot of … something. Based on what you saw from the Steelers run game last year and their apparent need to throw the ball in no more than 2.2 seconds at a time, does that sound like a unit this team should trust?

Especially given the perceived depth of talent at the position in this year’s draft?

Given what Williamson tells us, brace yourself for exactly that.

“I just think the Steelers in terms of their tackles have set themselves up to be more of the developmental third- or fourth-round guys as opposed to being all in (for a first-round pick),” Williamson said.

Oregon’s Penei Sewell and Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater (who may also project to guard) are perceived to be the top two players at tackle. After that, Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw and Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins may also be available when the Steelers pick in the first round at No. 24. Williamson says those two guys may tempt the Steelers to go in that direction. But if not, he sees good talent available all the way through the middle of the second day.

“This is a remarkably deep offensive tackle draft,” Williamson said. He suggests that the depth of players on the board at that position is so significant that an early run on quarterbacks, wide receivers and inside linebackers may push lots of quality selections down a few pegs.

“Turning your nose up at a tackle prospect is risky business because you don’t have that opportunity very often. Rarely are classes this good at that position. But where (the Steelers) stand and their other needs, I’d take the center over the tackle all things being equal.”

According to Williamson, James Hudson from Cincinnati and D’Ante Smith from East Carolina are two high-end athletes that may need a little refinement but are potential selections for the Steelers in the third or fourth round.

As for the centers that Williamson wants the Steelers to investigate, they are Alabama’s Landon Dickerson, Creed Humphrey from Oklahoma and Quinn Meinerz from Wisconsin Whitewater. He feels all three have the capabilities to continue the legacy of great Steelers centers that include Maurkice Pouncey, Jeff Hartings, Mike Webster and Dermontti Dawson.

“All of those guys I would strongly consider in the second round,” Williamson said. “If they could get one of those three names to be potentially a 12-year starter and the next one that goes in the Hall of Honor, I think they’ll be very interested in that.”

I love Dickerson’s ability. But he has an extraordinary track record of injuries.

In our podcast, Williamson and I wade into the debate over whether Dickerson is worth the gamble. We kick around a few other names at tackle that may tempt general manager Kevin Colbert. Plus, we analyze the trust the Steelers have in their current offensive linemen.

Listen: Tim Benz and Matt Williamson consider what the Steelers might do at offensive line in the NFL Draft