Throughout the pre-draft process, particularly in mock drafts across the NFL landscape, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been consistently paired with the same names.
From Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor to Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., and even Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, the names have been largely the same.
But on Tuesday morning, ESPN NFL Insider Peter Schrager pivoted hard in his latest mock draft and paired the Steelers with a new name, one that doesn’t make much sense at all.
That player? Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker.
In his mock, Schrager has the Steelers selecting Parker at No. 21 overall, and it’s a good reminder his mock drafts are based on what he’s hearing.
“Alabama’s Ty Simpson is still available, but I’m expecting Aaron Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh for another season. On defense, the Steelers started getting younger along the line with the Derrick Harmon pick a year ago, and I wouldn’t think they’re done there,” Schrager writes of the selection. “Parker has played a big role on the Clemson defense since his true freshman season, with 21.5 sacks over his three years there.”
Parker measured in at 6035, 263 pounds, so he’s undersized to be a 3-4 defensive lineman in the Steelers’ scheme. He’s also a bit heavy to be a true outside linebacker in the system, too. Therefore, the fit is very puzzling.
Add the fact that the Steelers are loaded at outside linebacker with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer, and have invested heavily in the defensive line in recent years with the selection of Derrick Harmon last year in the first round, as well as the drafting of Yahya Black, too, the extension of Cameron Heyward, and the free agency signing of Sebastian Joseph-Day, the group is deep.
It’s hard to see how Schrager got to the connection with Parker. He’s not a fit in the scheme as a defensive lineman, which is how Schrager is projecting him.
Yes, Parker has some good tape and has been productive in recent years, but it’s a baffling selection.
In our scouting report of Parker, Jake Brockhoff graded the Clemson product as an early Day 2 selection and a long-time starter at 8.1 overall, comparing him to former Georgia standout Mykel Williams. He landed with the San Francisco 49ers last year in the first round at No. 11 overall and plays defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, which is where Parker is projected best.
That’s not Pittsburgh.
“Parker will enter the NFL as a strong run defender. He understands that aspect of the game well, has arms long enough to extend on linemen, and sheds blocks consistently. That, plus his ability to drop into coverage, will get him playing time early in his career.
“There’s a lot to like about Parker as a pass rusher, but he still has some work to do there. He has a good first move and is obviously strong, but he’ll need to do more than that to win against NFL tackles. With a lack of explosiveness and bend, Parker needs to develop more counter moves to really collapse the pocket at the next level.”
A lack of explosiveness and bend is concerning for a guy with his size, so he comes off as more of a developmental piece. The Steelers don’t have a need for that right now, especially for a guy that doesn’t fit into the scheme.
If this is a name Schrager has been hearing for the Steelers, he might need to double check on the team and the player. It’s hard to wrap one’s mind around the logic here, especially with names like Proctor, Concepcion, Simpson, Boston, Clemson’s Blake Miller and Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman still on the board in this scenario.
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