Pittsburgh Steelers seven-round 2020 NFL mock draft
By John Newman
Harrison Bryant. 55. Florida Atlantic. 181. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Tight End
With the Pittsburgh Steelers having just three draft picks in the top 4 rounds, the team will need to take some serious long shots and hope they can develop at the next level. Vance McDonald has been a productive tight end in the past, but with just 15 touchdowns in his seven-season career and a lackluster season in 2019 McDonald is hardly a lock for the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers roster.
With McDonald having the biggest cap hit of all free agents next season at $6.5 million dollars (according to Spotrac), I expect the team will be moving off the veteran tight end this offseason.
With Harrison Bryant, the Pittsburgh Steelers would be getting an excellent tight end in the sixth round who could add depth to the tight end spot in Pittsburgh. The Florida Atlantic senior has contributed 15 touchdowns in three seasons and has been a consistent staple of the Owl’s offense. Bryant came 35 yards short of a 1,000-yard season this year. According to PFF, Bryant was the highest-graded Tight End thru week 13 this season.
Besides putting up impressive numbers, Bryant’s tape shows a very good athlete, who is a team player and can get deep when needed. On run blocking, Bryant shows a willingness to block with intensity and stay on defenders. He has great hands, and rarely drops a pass thrown his way. Bryant is reliable as well, missing only one game in four seasons for the Owls, according to the team’s website.
Bryant is hardly a sure thing, as he would be drafted higher than this if he was a day one player in the NFL. At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Bryant is a bit lanky for the NFL. In contested catches, his performance against better talent might not hold up as well as it does against Florida Atlantic opponents.
How well he would do blocking in the NFL, where pass-rushers are tougher and way more physical, is also an unknown. But for the sixth round, Bryant is a solid pick up. He has the tools and technique to be a solid depth piece if given enough time to develop.
Considering the Pittsburgh Steelers may lose Vance McDonald and recent trade Nick Vannett to free agency after this season, I expect the team will need to pick up at least one tight end in free agency, and roll with them on a short term deal in 2020. Having a solid prospect like Bryant in the wings to develop would be a smart move for the Steelers.