At No. 124 the Steelers find the chance to fill the free agency departure of Javon Hargrave at nose tackle with Utah’s Leki Fotu. For my projections, Raekwon Davis could very well be available into the fourth round, however, this simulation didn’t agree as he went No. 78 overall to the Atlanta Falcons.
Should the Pittsburgh Steelers wish to pursue Davis the fit may be more profound than many think. Davis may have dropped off as a pass rusher, but he’s still a commanding presence on the front. A move to the nose could allow Davis to leverage his immense size to free up linebackers. In this mock, however, that task falls to Fotu, an imposing force in his own right.
With the 135th pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Anfernee Jennings. Finally, right?
Jennings’s versatility is something the Steelers have looked for in previous drafts. Jennings doesn’t particularly excel at any one thing, he’s just a smart player capable of playing effectively on the edge or as an off-backer.
With the departure of Mark Barron, the Steelers will soon have an opening next to Devin Bush at the interior linebacker. On the edge, the need for depth behind TJ Watt and Bud Dupree is an underlying need since Anthony Chickillo was released. These are both roles Jennings could fill in time.
In the meantime, he can prove his worth as a special teamer in relief of Tyler Matakevich.