Well, it’s that time of year again. For about the past decade, two weeks before the draft, I’ve written a “Favorite prospects for the Steelers” article in one form or another. I did them for years over at our previous site, and last year was my first here at SCN.

Sometimes the players who make this list turn out to be NFL stars. For example, I really wanted Pittsburgh to take tight end T.J. Hockenson out of Iowa back in 2019, but the Lions snapped him up at #8 overall, which was well before the Steelers selected. Hockenson, now with Minnesota, has caught over 180 passes the past two seasons and is one of the best in the league at his position. Another favorite of mine was Landon Dickerson, the massive center/guard out of Alabama, who has become a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s line. Unfortunately, the Eagles nabbed Dickerson in Round Two in 2021 before Pittsburgh could select.

Others don’t do nearly as well. Case in point, K.J. Hamler, the receiver out of Penn State, who I thought would inject a missing element of speed into Pittsburgh’s offense. I liked him as a Round 2 pick in 2020. Hamler did go in Round 2, to the Broncos, but has been unable to stay healthy and is now on his third team (Buffalo) in three years. The G.O.A.T. of all my misguided draft crushes was Andrew Billings. Any reader who goes back with us deep into the BTSC days remembers the great Billings love-fest of 2016. I was one of those on the Billings train — regrettably.

Sometimes my favorites even wind up in black-and-gold. Last year, I was gaga over Joey Porter Jr. and was thrilled when the Steelers nabbed him early in Round Two. If the same comes true for any of the players below, I’ll be ecstatic. Just don’t hate me if they turn out to be flops. For every Hockenson or Dickerson there seems to be a Hamler and a Billings. Such is the fickle nature of forecasting NFL success.

Graham Barton — OL, Duke

I’ve gone back-and-forth on my preference at center in this draft. Initially, I liked Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon, the Rimington Trophy winner and a player whose ability to block the wide zone scheme makes him a great fit for Arthur Smith’s offense. Then I favored West Virginia’s Zach Frazier, whose combination of leadership, physicality and demeanor seemed perfectly suited for Pittsburgh. Frazier is a bit nastier than Powers-Johnson, and he comes with more experience. If I were picking between Powers-Johnson and Frazier, the West Virginia product would be my preference.

However, the guy I’d really like to see the Steelers target if they intend to select a center in Round One is Duke’s Graham Barton. If you’d like to read my complete thoughts on Barton, which includes a video breakdown, check out the article to which I’ve linked below. Here, I’ll simply say the combination of tenacity and athleticism he brings as a 6’5-315 pound lineman is through the roof, and the fact he can play center, guard or tackle gives the Steelers plenty of options on how to introduce him into the lineup. I do believe that by drafting Barton, who played center his freshmen year at Duke but has been entrenched at left tackle ever since, the Steelers would have to sign a veteran bridge center who could start until Barton has re-acclimated to the position. Still, while Frazier might be the safest pick of the three, Barton has the highest upside.

Graham Barton Breakdown

Amarius Mims — OT, Georgia

If the Steelers opt for an offensive tackle in Round One instead of a center, a consensus favorite among mock drafters is Georgia’s Amarius Mims. I’m often skeptical of advocating for players who are commonly mocked to one team. Many mock drafts are echo chambers and the work of clickbait artists who don’t always do their homework or know what they’re studying when it comes to draft prospects. In the case of Mims, however, his fit in Pittsburgh seems ideal.

Mims is 6’8, weighs 340 pounds and nearly cracked five seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Let that sink in for a moment. To say he’s a special athlete at his size is an understatement. He has an ideal frame for an NFL offensive tackle and his ability to move and bend suggests he’ll be a solid pass protector and useful in space. Mims would be a perfect bookend opposite his college teammate at Georgia, last year’s 1st Round pick Broderick Jones. The prospect of adding Mims to play with Jones, whom Mims considers a mentor, is exciting. There is familiarity and kinship between the two, and although they wouldn’t play next to each other on the line, their relationship would benefit the cohesiveness of the unit.

The biggest concern with Mims is that he made just eight starts at Georgia and is still a ball of clay in need of some molding. Fortunately, Pittsburgh still has Dan Moore Jr. at tackle, which lessens the need to rush Mims into the lineup. There are probably other tackles likely to be available when the Steelers draft at 1:20 who will be ready to start sooner than Mims. Alabama’s J.C. Latham comes to mind in that regard. But for long-term potential, and the ability to develop into a potential star at the position, the sky is the limit for Mims.

Roman Wilson — WR, Michigan

Unless Pittsburgh swings a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, the odds they will take a receiver early in this draft are high. My oscillation on who that player should be rivals my indecision at center. This is a deep receiver class and there are several names I’d be comfortable with for the Steelers.

I like South Carolina’s Xavier Legette in Round Two as a compliment to George Pickens. Legette is a ball-snatcher like Pickens and would give Pittsburgh two vertical threats on the outside to keep defenses honest and make it tough for them to drop safeties into the box to get an extra defender against the run. I like Florida’s Ricky Pearsall, too, although he’s a different type of player than Legette. Pearsall is more of a slot receiver with a knack for getting open in the middle of the field, which is a useful skill in Smith’s play-action offense.

If the Steelers are leaning towards a slot player, the one I’d most prefer is Michigan’s Roman Wilson. Wilson and Pearsall are similar in size and straight speed. Wilson is 6’0-192 and Pearsall 6’1-190, while Wilson ran 4.39 in the 40 at the Combine and Pearsall clocked 4.41. Pearsall may be a slightly more accomplished route runner but Wilson is twitchier and more explosive. Wilson combines great hands with great burst and has serious separation potential. The prospect of using 12-personnel sets to keep opponents in their base defense and matching Wilson in the slot against safeties is exciting. And, as a product of a Michigan offense that emphasized a physical run game, Wilson is a willing blocker who will bloody his nose at the second level. The combination of explosiveness and toughness sets Wilson apart. If he’s still available when the Steelers pick in Round Two, he’d be an ideal fit for their identity on offense.

Mike Sanristil — CB, Michigan

Another Round Two option who would make a lot of sense is Wilson’s teammate at Michigan, cornerback Mike Sanristil. Pittsburgh played 62% of its defensive snaps last season with a slot corner on the field. Chandon Sullivan and Patrick Peterson took the bulk of those snaps, but neither was retained by the team this off-season. With no clear successor in place, the Steelers have a need for a reliable slot defender in the draft.

Enter Sanristil, who many believe would be a first round pick if not for the fact he is considered undersized at 5’9-182. What Sanristil lacks in size he makes up for in toughness, athleticism, ball skills and tenacity. As a slot player, he is reminiscent of former Steeler Mike Hilton, albeit with better coverage skills. Sanristil is a converted wide receiver whose background as a pass-catcher helped him garner six interceptions in 2023. Like Wilson, he is twitchy and has great change-of-direction ability, which allows him to stick to quick receivers. He is a willing tackler and has value as a blitzer as well.

Sanristil has played just two seasons at cornerback and is by no means a finished product. But his slot skills are excellent and he could work there as a rookie while developing the broader aspects of his game. If the Steelers want a corner to play inside and absorb some of the reps they gave to Sullivan and Peterson, Sanristil is an attractive option.