Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-Round 2018 mock draft after free agency

Coming into the offseason, there wasn’t a bigger need for the Steelers than inside linebacker. The loss of Ryan Shazier left a huge hole in the middle of the defense — the likes of which no one on the 2017 roster came even close to filling.

Pittsburgh took one small step forward at the position with the signing of Jon Bostic. However, as you may know, he’s far from a reliable option at this point in his career. The former first-round pick looked like a bust through his first few years. Then, he enjoyed a breakout season of sorts in 2017 with the Indianapolis Colts. Realistically, though, the Steelers can’t depend solely on him moving forward.

Another option is needed, and it just so happens the 2018 draft class is top heavy with linebacker talent. One of the top options is Leighton Vander Esch, a Boise State product who watched his stock skyrocket this past season.

Vander Esch is a premier athlete, using excellent speed, strength and agility to find the football. Although his mechanics still need some work, he shows the tools to excel as both a run and pass defender. No one will be the perfect replacement for Shazier, but Vander Esch may come close.