Every year, we put together a pretty comprehensive list of Steelers picks in mock drafts around the web. We’re admittedly not draft experts and don’t claim to know the inside scoop on hundreds of college players. Fortunately, there are plenty of people who do and they can be found below in our list of 2014 Steelers mock draft picks.
| Player | Position | School | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Gilbert | CB | Oklahoma State | Rob Rang (CBS Sports) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Dan Brugler (CBS Sports) |
| Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan | Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Pat Kirwan (CBS Sports) |
| Odell Beckham Jr | WR | LSU | Will Brinson (CBS Sports) |
| Kyle Fuller (trade back to #22) | CB | Virginia Tech | Peter King (Sports Illustrated) |
| Odell Beckham Jr | WR | LSU | Charles Davis (NFL.com) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) |
| Kyle Fuller | CB | Virginia Tech | Charley Casserly (NFL.com) |
| Odell Beckham Jr | WR | LSU | Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Brian Baldinger (NFL.com) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Mike Huguenin (NFL.com) |
| Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan | Chase Goodbread (NFL.com) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Matt Smith (NFL.com) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | Bryan Fischer (NFL.com) |
| Kyle Fuller | CB | Virginia Tech | DraftTek.com |
| Justin Gilbert | CB | Oklahoma State | Walter Football |
| Taylor Lewan | OT | Michigan | Matt Miller (Bleacher Report) |
| Darqueze Dennard | CB | Michigan State | NFL Draft Geek |
| Marqise Lee | WR | USC | Michael Straw (Fansided) |
| Kyle Fuller | CB | Virginia Tech | Business Insider (?) |
| Ra'Shede Hageman | DT | Minnesota | Business Insider (?) |
The support for the Steelers to draft a cornerback with their first pick is overwhelming. The consensus winner is Michigan State corner Darqueze Dennard, with a few Justin Gilberts and Kyle Fullers sprinkled in. Again, I don’t know anything about college football (I went to Pitt) but Dennard sounds like the best corner in the draft according to most who are in the know.
Last year, the popular vote was Jarvis Jones, which turned out to be dead on. 2012 was all over the place. So take this with a grain of salt, as you should any speculation leading up to the draft on Thursday. But it looks like the Steelers are expected to bolster the defense first, as well they should. The defensive depth at every position is terrifying as a Steeler fan, and this week, that’s a problem Kevin Colbert and his staff should be able to fix.
