SB Nation NFL mock draft: Steelers add best player available at No. 21, shore up defensive backfield

Photo by Caten Hyde/The University of Texas Athletics/Getty Images

This wasn’t the Steelers’ biggest need, but with the top OL and DL off the board already, BPA is a smart move.

The Steelers are coming off yet another winning season in 2024. However, they’re still searching for their first postseason win since the 2016 Divisional Round where they beat the Kansas City Chiefs before losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship.

Mike Tomlin is a winner. No matter what state his team looks to be in entering a new year, they always find a way to finish above .500. This past season, they managed to make the playoffs with two different starting quarterbacks. Now neither of those two players are on the team, and the current penciled-in starter for now is career backup Mason Rudolph.

We know that will change before the start of the regular season, but exactly who ends up starting for them remains a mystery. Will it be Aaron Rodgers? Will it be a rookie? As things stand on the board for the SB Nation Community Mock Draft, both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are long gone and no other quarterback is really worth going this high.

So where does that leave Kate Magdziuk of Behind The Steel Curtain?

Well, with the 21st pick, she’s decided to further reinforce the Steelers’ elite defense by drafting cornerback Jahdae Barron, a very smart and productive DB out of the University of Texas.

21.) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Magdziuk: The Pittsburgh Steelers had a few needs to address in this draft, with defensive line and quarterback topping the list. However, with the top options at DL and QB off the board at pick No. 21, the Khan Artist rolls with the best available — also addressing a long-term need at cornerback — selecting Texas prospect Jahdae Barron. Pittsburgh signed veteran Darius Slay to a one-year contract in free agency, but with Barron, the Steelers find an extremely versatile contributor in the secondary, capable of contributing as an outside corner or nickel. That versatility will undoubtedly endear him to HC Mike Tomlin as they look to find the yin to Joey Porter Jr.’s yang.

Analysis: Barron finally comes off the board and I’m a big fan of this pairing with the Steelers. The former Texas All-American is an incredibly smart player with the type of instincts that head coach Mike Tomlin will covet on his defense.

When you’ve got a great pass-rushing duo in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, you want instinctive and opportunistic defensive backs behind them to take advantage of the chaos created. Barron is that type of player. His ability to diagnose route-concepts and play a step ahead of most quarterbacks will put him in a prime position to make an impact alongside the other defensive standouts in Pittsburgh.

Top five remaining players:

James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Our second-ranked cornerback is finally off the board. The Chargers, who are in need of help at several positions, including offensive interior, tight end, and defensive tackle, are on the clock. With someone like Banks still on the board — who could feasibly play guard at the next level — do the Chargers pounce there? What about taking a young pass rusher to replace the now-departed Joey Bosa?

The Bolts could go a number of ways here at No. 22 so stay tuned for what could be a surprising pick!