Pittsburgh Steelers 2017 Seven round mock draft

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on from the sidelines against the New England Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on from the sidelines against the New England Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Elijah Hood (34) tackled by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back A. J. Gray (15) and defensive back Corey Griffin (14) during the third quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Elijah Hood (34) tackled by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back A. J. Gray (15) and defensive back Corey Griffin (14) during the third quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

DeAngelo Williams probably won’t return. If that’s the case, the Steelers will theoretically need someone to compete for the coveted backup spot to Le’Veon Bell. But in reality when Bell is healthy, Todd Haley has him on the field seemingly 98 percent of the time.

The Steelers will bet on Bell returning to form and his production improving on a big contract year instead of going out of there way to draft a back in the early rounds.

Elijah Hood is well suited to compliment Bell’s running style. Big and powerful, he is used to overwhelming defenders with his strength. A short yardage back that has decent hands, Hood can actually develop into the perfect back to give Bell a quick one play breather and vulture some of his touchdowns around the goal line.

Keeping Bell out of those one yard scuffles will help keep him healthy and that’s what the Steelers really want anyway — Le’Veon Bell healthy.