Following the NFL Combine, draft boards have been shaken up following the rise and fall of combine standouts and underperformers. Pro Football Focus has released their first post-combine mock draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers select Matthew Golden, one of the standout performers from the combine, with the 21st pick. Golden ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any receiver at the combine and his stock is up following his impressive showing.
Steelers Land Combine Riser Matthew Golden in New Mock Draft
Golden’s Stock Continues to Rise
Not too long ago, Golden wasn’t even considered the best wide receiver prospect on his own team. Now, PFF projects him to be the second receiver off the board, only behind Arizona’s Tetaiora McMillan. In their commentary, PFF references Golden’s impressive 40-yard dash but notes his speed isn’t even his biggest selling point. Golden is a fluid route runner with strong hands who can reliably get open and battle through contact to win contested catches.
PFF also mentioned there is a chance Golden could be the first receiver off the board in the draft. In that case, Pittsburgh would miss out on the exciting prospect. It is hard to envision the top 20 picks passing by without one wide receiver being drafted. However, it would be considered a surprise by most for Golden to get drafted ahead of McMillan. Either way, if the Steelers want Matthew Golden, it is far from a guarantee that he will be available when they make their pick.
Steelers Have Their Pick of Several Top Targets
The most interesting aspect of PFF’s mock draft is their projection that several players considered top Steelers targets will be available. Defensive tackle is a position in which the Steelers have shown extreme interest throughout the pre-draft process so far. Kenneth Grant of Michigan and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon are both available at 21 in PFF’s mock. Grant doesn’t come off the board until pick 30, and Harmon doesn’t even get selected in the first round, a bit of a surprise considering his strong showing at the combine.
Pittsburgh’s other top position of need in the draft is wide receiver. Of course, PFF has them landing Golden at 21. It was interesting that both Luther Burden III (selected at 32) and Emeka Egbuka (out of the first round) were available to the Steelers in the mock. Each of these receivers would bring different traits to the Steelers. If all are available, Pittsburgh could make their pick based on the style of receiver they are looking for.
Overall, the Steelers would be thrilled if the real draft board in April fills out the way PFF’s mock draft did. Grant, Harmon, Golden, Burden, and Egbuka are all considered five of Pittsburgh’s top seven or eight draft targets. Being able to have their choice between the whole bunch would be an ideal scenario for the Steelers. This board would also open up the potential for the team to trade back, accumulate an extra pick or two to address their several needs, and still land one of their most preferred prospects.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
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