NFL Draft: AFC North Needs and First Round Picks

Draft Needs and First-Round Picks for every AFC North team

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) gestures as he walks across the stage after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

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Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)

Needs and selections via Still Curtain

Hold the #25 overall pick
Hoping to see Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant together for an entire game for the first time since the 2014 season.
25 players hitting free agency

Draft Needs

Potential First-Round Picks

Eli Apple – Corner, Ohio State
Taylor Decker – Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
Vadal Alexander – Offensive Guard, LSU

Like Baltimore, Pittsburgh has suffered through an extensive list of injuries to key players. Despite the injuries, however, the Steelers still managed to reach the divisional round of the playoffs, meaning that the team will have the latest first-round selection of any AFC North team.

The Steelers offense is loaded with weapons, in the passing and running game, but the team’s offensive line could benefit from the addition of a guard to pair with David DeCastro. A tackle could also be in play if Kelvin Beachum decides to leave in free agency.

But the more likely play for Pittsburgh will be addressing one of its holes on defense. The Steelers need playmakers all over the defense at almost every position, save defensive line. The only defensive position Pittsburgh likely won’t consider addressing in the first round: linebacker, which the team has addressed in the first round every season for three years straight. It would be hard to see the Steelers selecting a linebacker for a fourth straight year.

Next: Cincinnati Bengals