With five picks in the first three rounds, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have plenty of chances to draft impact players. While they don’t have any major needs, some areas, such as the left side of the offensive line, need more depth.
Taking part in a two-round mock draft, analyst Max Chadwick had the Steelers selecting Kadyn Proctor in the first round to supplement that unit.
“Kadyn Proctor should be in the same breath as Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano…he is up there with those guys,” Chadwick said Tuesday on his Preferred Walk-On show. “I thought he was so good this past year at Alabama. I think his tools are excellent, I think he’s well worth a first-round pick. And here at number 21 overall, I feel confident that he can become the left tackle of the future, or right tackle, really.”
Proctor will probably be able to play both tackle and guard at the NFL level. He has tremendous size and power and has unique athleticism for his frame. At tackle, his length and frame are an automatic problem for defenders, but his technique needs refinement. Proctor also struggles with changing direction, so he may be more suited for the guard position in the NFL.
Chadwick can see Proctor holding down either right or left tackle on the Steelers’ offense for the foreseeable future. In Pittsburgh, he would likely play left tackle. Troy Fautanu can play both positions, but is settled in at right tackle. Proctor’s traits make his ceiling very high. But there are several things he must refine to get there.
In the second round, Chadwick had the Steelers taking another Alabama prospect, this time a receiver in Germie Bernard.
“I think Germie Bernard would provide a different element [for the] receiving corps that they don’t have right now. So, give me Germie Bernard, the wideout from Alabama, to the Steelers,” Chadwick said.
Bernard has been connected to the Steelers a few times. Pittsburgh has already set up a pre-draft meeting with him. He doesn’t have a ton of top-end speed and will need to improve against man and press coverage.
But there are a ton of things Bernard brings that the Steelers’ offense desperately needs. He’s deadly after the catch thanks to his impressive contact balance. He runs clean, nuanced routes. Bernard also plays with good awareness and works to get himself open over the middle of the field and find soft spots in zone coverage. Bernard is strong and understands the game well. With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in the fold, he’d be an excellent third option.
There are plenty of directions the Steelers can go, and more positions than these two need help. But the Steelers’ offense would have plenty of upside adding Proctor and Bernard.
