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When it comes to the NFL draft, there are two schools of thought for top picks. A team can focus that early draft pick on the greatest position of need and when they go on the clock, chose the best player at that position regardless of other players available.
But there is also the idea of drafting the best player available. This means when the team makes their choice, they opt for the highest-rated player on their board regardless of the position they play.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have worked back and forth between the two in recent seasons. But in this latest mock draft by Draft Wire, they land an elite star by opting for best player available.
With the No. 20 overall pick, they have the Steelers taking Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. Here’s what they had to say about the pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could go in a number of directions with this pick, including addressing the interior defensive line in the wake of Javon Hargrave’s departure for Philadelphia. But they take advantage of a bit of a fall, and grab DeVonta Smith, a potentially elite wide receiver from Alabama.
Sure, the Steelers drafted Chase Claypool early in the 2019 NFL Draft, but there is still a chance he becomes more of a move tight end at the next level. Smith would give the Steelers’ offense another weapon on the outside, and the Alabama WR is a solid route-runner who plays with no fear over the middle. Pairing him with the other weapons in Pittsburgh would be a huge boost to that passing game.
Smith is the latest in a recent run of elite receiver prospects to come out of Alabama. Even if the Steelers lose JuJu Smith-Schuster to free agency, wide receiver isn’t the team’s top need but this scenario is a great example of picking the player you think makes the team better in the most significant way possible.
Looking at the rest of the first round there several players who might give a more immediate impact in a 2021 season where Pittsburgh might have to re-make their roster. Which approach suits you better? Let us know in the comments.
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