Pittsburgh Steelers seven-round 2020 NFL mock draft

Drafting just three picks after the 115th spot in the fourth round, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to address the offensive line. Right Tackle Matt Feiler and backup tackle Zach Banner will be restricted free agents after this season. While the restricted free agent designation will help the Pittsburgh Steelers during contract negotiations for these two, I am not expecting the front office to match any other team’s offers.

The NFL has a serious lack of offensive line talent, and with a demand for even competent line help being at an all-time high, I expect one or both players to hit the free market after 2019, considering the Pittsburgh Steelers meager cap space in 2020.

Jack Driscoll will make a fine replacement for Feiler on the right side. Driscoll started his college career at UMass , playing two seasons before transferring as a graduate student to Auburn and the much more difficult SEC.

Even with the move into the SEC, Driscoll didn’t appear to miss a beat and continued to thrive at the right tackle spot for Auburn. At 6-foot-5 and 296 pounds, Driscoll has the body size to excel at the next level and has proven that a change in scenery will not hamper his skills.

Coming into the 2019 season, PFF had Driscoll ranked as the fourth-best tackle in the SEC. Watching his play, it is easy to see why. He can move his opponent quickly to open up the run. He has the frame to make pass-rushing a problem for opposing defenses. On plays where he is required to double team a defender, it’s easy to see which player is making the biggest difference in blocking.

After coming in as an undrafted free agent, Pittsburgh Steelers Right Tackle Feiler has been better than the team could have ever dreamed. But coming in as an undrafted rookie means making far less money than most players on the offensive line. Making just $645,000 this season makes Feiler one of the most underpaid athletes on the Pittsburgh Steelers starting roster.

According to Spotrac, he is just the 43rd highest-paid right tackle in the NFL. With the performance he has put in this year, expect more than just Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert making overtures at the 27-year-old this offseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has always thrived because of a robust offensive line. But with several Offensive Line players hitting free agency next season, including players like Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster exceeding ten seasons in their career, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need an infusion of fresh blood into their offensive line.

If they hope to keep Big Ben and James Conner healthy for the next season and beyond, they will need a right tackle that has the athleticism and skills to keep defensive players away from them. With the shortage of quality tackles in the NFL, finding one who has thrived for two teams across three seasons in the fourth round, Driscoll is worth a serious look before the 2020 NFL draft.