Early Mock from NFL.com Has the Steelers Taking....

[Jooser]

C.J. Mosley - ILB - Alabama

[URL]http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-drafts/charles-davis/175603[/URL]

Mock draft 1.0

By Charles Davis |

NFL Media analyst

Published: Jan. 16, 2014 at 12:04 p.m.
Note: The 2014 NFL Draft order is not yet official. Selections Nos. 21-32 are determined by the results of the playoffs. A coin flip between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys will determine picks No. 16 and No. 17.

Pick No.1 HOU Teddy Bridgewater QBLouisville
A very fluid pick here for the Texans. This is not set in stone.

Pick No. 2 STL Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M
Sam Bradford is the Rams' QB. They have to protect him.

Pick No. 3 JAC Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M
Yes, the Jags will start over at QB, too. Johnny Football could be their guy.

Pick No. 4 CLE Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina
If Johnny Manziel is gone, the Browns might continue to fortify a good defense.

Pick No. 5 OAK Marqise Lee WR USC
The Raiders need players at a number of positions, and Lee is a game breaker.

Pick No. 6 ATL Anthony Barr OLB UCLA
Barr is a terrific player who can really rush the passer.

Pick No. 7 TB Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo
Many scouts have Mack rated higher than Anthony Barr.

Pick No. 8 MIN Blake Bortles QB Central Florida
No player will be more scrutinized in the pre-draft process.

Pick No. 9 BUF Taylor Lewan OT Michigan
The Wolverines' stalwart has plenty of nasty to him.

Pick No. 10 DET Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St.
Home-state cornerback is a good fit for Lions.

Pick No. 11 TEN Cyrus Kouandjio OT Alabama
The Titans are still trying to solidify their offensive line.

Pick No. 12 NYG Greg Robinson OT Auburn
More protection for Eli Manning is needed.

Pick No. 13 STL Sammy Watkins WR Clemson
Watkins would give the Rams more speed to try to catch San Francisco and Seattle.

Pick No. 14 CHI Louis Nix III DT Notre Dame
Stopping the run is a priority for the Bears in 2014.

Pick No. 15 PIT C.J. Mosley ILB Alabama
Tough and physical linebacker would be perfect fit in Pittsburgh.

Pick No. 16 BAL Mike Evans WR Texas A&M
A helpful target for Joe Flacco, but offensive line is a need, too.

Pick No. 17 DAL Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama
The safety position has been an issue for years in Dallas.

Pick No. 18 NYJ Ryan Shazier OLB Ohio St.
The Jets' defensive line is very good, but they could use some playmakers on the edges.

Pick No. 19 MIA Zack Martin OT Notre Dame
Offensive line is a big need, and this LT really impressed me vs. Stanford's terrific defense.

Pick No. 20 ARI Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma St.
A long CB to pair with All-Pro Patrick Peterson.

Pick No. 21 GB Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame
Tuitt can play the run and rush the passer.

Pick No. 22 PHI Calvin Pryor FS Louisville
Pryor would give the Eagles a physical presence in the secondary.

Pick No. 23 KC Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida St.
The Chiefs need to establish a presence downfield, and Benjamin could provide it.

Pick No. 24 CIN Bradley Roby CB Ohio St.
Roby must clean up a few things, but he has plenty of ability.

Pick No. 25 SD Jace Amaro TE Texas Tech
Antonio Gates can't go on forever ... can he?

Pick No. 26 CLE Derek Carr QB Fresno St.
They'll be tempted to take a runner here, but QBs are hard to turn down.

Pick No. 27 NO Antonio Richardson OT Tennessee
Keeping Drew Brees upright is always a priority for New Orleans.

Pick No. 28 CAR Carlos Hyde RB Ohio St.
It's time to start over at the RB position, and Hyde is this year's Eddie Lacy (and possibly better).

Pick No. 29 NE Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Washington
It was a somewhat disappointing season for him, but a good pre-draft circuit puts him back on the map.

Pick No. 30 SF Timmy Jernigan DT Florida St.
Jernigan would give the 49ers another good player to fortify a dynamic defense.

Pick No. 31 DEN Jason Verrett CB TCU
Verrett's size will give them pause, but his playmaking is exceptional.

Pick No. 32 SEA Allen Robinson WR Penn St.
Robinson is underrated nationally, but he is a good route runner with tremendous ball skills.

I guess he's made his Super Bowl prediction too. What say y'all? Perhaps there's bigger need elsewhere?

[Shawn]

I'm convinced the Steelers draft board will look something like this...

1) Dennard-who will likely be gone
2) CJ Mosley
3) Louis Nix

[Shawn]

What I find interesting is Hyde going in the first. I agree he is a first round talent, but haven't seen a mock with him higher than 3.

[steelsnis]

Pretty sure Mosley is an Inside Backer.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

I would be happy with Mosley but that would mean they written Spence off. So kind of a bitter sweet pick....But that's the game.

[Oviedo]

I'm convinced the Steelers draft board will look something like this...

1) Dennard-who will likely be gone
2) CJ Mosley
3) Louis Nix

Do you really think their board will only have defensive players? As I understand it they build the board based on their total evaluation of players regardless of position. Quite a few offensive players will rate higher than those guys even if you exclude QBs. Specifcally Evans (WR), Lee (WR), Ebron (TE), Lewan (OT) and possibly Amaro (TE).

[ramblinjim]

I thought Mosley was an inside backer? I'd love to get the pass catching tight end (Ebron?) or the 6'5" receiver from Texas A&M and then go defense the rest of the draft. But that's just me. I just don't watch enough college football to pick the guys all that well.

[flippy]

Im down with the Mosley pick. And I think Tomlin might have visions of Derrick Brooks in this kid. An ILB that can play in space probably helps this team more than any other position could. When Foote went down, it left the biggest hole on this team that we just couldn't recover from.

[Oviedo]

Im down with the Mosley pick. And I think Tomlin might have visions of Derrick Brooks in this kid. An ILB that can play in space probably helps this team more than any other position could. When Foote went down, it left the biggest hole on this team that we just couldn't recover from.

Timmons was Tomlin's Derrick Brooks clone pick. Still think the intent was for Timmons to play OLB but the James Harrison "miracle" occurred and to get him on the field he had to move inside.

[Jooser]

My bad, I was screwed up thinking he's an OLB. I'd be ok with him for an inside LB pick. We certainly need help there.

[Dee Dub]

C.J. Mosley is an ILB in Nick Saban's 3-4 zone blitz.

[sick beats]

My bad, I was screwed up thinking he's an OLB. I'd be ok with him for an inside LB pick. We certainly need help there.

Are you guys assuming Williams is definitely not a starting ILB moving forward? Timmons is a stud (even though there are a lot of Timmon haters around). Unless there is a player that is in the realm of a Pat Willis or Bowans, I don't see using a first rounder on an ILB; he would have to be a huge difference maker like one of those guys and I don't know that there is one in this draft of that magnitude.

[pittpete]

I like this better
[url]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014-nfl-mock-drafts/2014/1/15/5310786/2014-nfl-mock-draft-steelers-mike-evans-walter-football[/url]

[SS Laser]

I think with the way the offence looked strong it may be time to give Ben another weapon if the guy that they value is there at 15. Then go Defense heavy if possible. I want to see how Willams, Spence, Gavin turn out. But if Mosley is BPA then I would be fine with that. Just don't see that as the case. But ILB is just as much a problem in my eyes as NT is to get the run defense back on track.

[thor75]

I'm all on board with the Mosley pick. Smart player and is good in pass coverage. He helps this defense immediately. I liked how V. Williams stepped up this year as a 6th rounder, but he will make a solid back-up. Its time to bring the Steelers LBing corp back to prominence.