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Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft nets potential starters

By Randy Gurzi

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Devin Bush #10 of the Michigan Wolverines tackles Jafar Armstrong #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Devin Bush #10 of the Michigan Wolverines tackles Jafar Armstrong #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: D’Andre Walker #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after sacking Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the third quarter in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: D’Andre Walker #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after sacking Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the third quarter in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Round 3, Pick 83: D’Andre Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Bud Dupree was a first round pick in 2015 for the Steelers and enters a critical season. Pittsburgh picked up the fifth-year on his rookie contract but he surely wants to secure a long-term deal from the team. To date, Dupree has been a solid player but he hasn’t put up the sack totals the team was hoping for.

Here, they add D’Andre Walker, a player who can spell Dupree and fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt while also giving the team options going forward. Should Dupree not meet their expectations in 2019, having a player capable of bringing the heat from the outside linebacker position ready and waiting will do wonders.

While at Georgia, Walker had to wait for his chance to get on the field and was a reserve for the better part of his career. He did start to come on in 2017 and by this past season, he had 7.5 sacks and looked the part of an NFL pass rusher.

He may need to take a similar path in the NFL, and the Steelers roster allows that for him. Walker should be on the field in certain situations as a rookie but will be limited to pass rushing duties. He needs work in defending the run game but in time, could develop into a solid starter.

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