The Pittsburgh Steelers have a large need at wide receiver after free agency since they traded Diontae Johnson, and that at least opens up the door for the position to be considered in the first round. Considering the team met with all the top wide receivers at the NFL Combine, it has to be at least considered a possibility.
In a new mock draft on Tuesday, Peter Schrager of NFL Network has the team landing LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
“I’m still keeping an eye on Steelers GM Omar Khan to make a splash at wide receiver this offseason. Could that be a trade for Brandon Aiyuk? If not, Thomas is a special talent who helped himself at the combine as much as any player at the position,” Schrager wrote.
Thomas is a freak athlete who can make plays above the rim. He is an entirely different player than Johnson, which raises some questions about the pick, but there is no doubt that Thomas has the requisite tools to appeal to the Steelers. His height, weight, and speed combination allows him to win on the outside and vertically, but more than anything, he is a guy who gives 100 percent on every play. Even though the profile reads like George Pickens, he is different than him, too. Thomas has some Matravis Bryant traits in his game.
The Steelers have not shown much outward interest in him, though, so it raises a few questions about if he will be the pick. This certainly is shaping up to be a pick where the Steelers address the offensive line.
More must-reads: