Pittsburgh Steelers prep for the future in 7-round 2021 NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 mock draft: Round 2, Pick 56
Cincinnati. player. OT. James Hudson. 2. 830. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
No matter who the Pittsburgh Steelers have under center, they’ll need to protect him. Entering this 2021 NFL mock draft, the Steelers are set to see four offensive linemen enter free agency in addition to Maurkice Pouncey retiring.
That could potentially make for an entirely new left side of the line for the team in 2021.
After transferring to Cincinnati from Michigan after the 2018 season, James Hudson immediately stepped in and had an impact in 2020. Hudson started all 10 games for the Bearcats this past season, being part of a Cincinnati line that allowed just 19 sacks over 10 games while also blocking for over 2,100 rushing yards.
Round 3, Pick 87
Israel Mukuamu. player. Pick Analysis. DB. South Carolina. 3. 850. Scouting Report
Like the offensive line, the Pittsburgh secondary could be depleted this offseason. Four players are currently set to become free agents, including Mike Hilton and Cameron Sutton who were impactful players this past season.
Entering the 2020 season, Israel Mukuamu was on the watch list for the 2021 NFL Draft as a player who could have a lot of potential. However, he only played in five games which hurt his draft stock. If you look at his 2019 stats, you can see his potential.
During the 2019 season, Mukuamu recorded nine passes defended along with four interceptions, taking one of them to the house. Those numbers were expected to increase in 2020, but instead, he logged just two interceptions and no passes defended.
The plus for Mukuama is the interceptions. Having two in just five games is rather impressive, but he’ll need to show that he can do more than that. The five games were a setback for him, but if the Steelers can see his potential, then he might be a value pick in the third round.