The Pittsburgh Steelers season ended with a loss to the Chiefs and we now look ahead to the 2022 season with this 7-round mock draft, which they use to replace Ben Roethlisberger
It was a wild ride for Ben Roethlisberger. Taken 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Big Ben was the third quarterback taken in that historic draft and ended up being the last one standing.
He was taken after Eli Manning and Philip Rivers and while all three were good, Big Ben arguably had the most success. He and Manning both wound up with two Super Bowl rings — whereas Rivers had none — but Roethlisberger ended up with an insane record of 165-81-1. He also didn’t have any of the stretches of poor play that plagued Manning down the stretch.
Now after their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round, it’s time for the Steelers to begin life without Big Ben. That leads to them writing down a quarterback’s name in the opening round of this seven-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 1 pick: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins are both members of the Steelers quarterback room but neither of them has done enough to prove they should be the heir to Big Ben. Head coach Mike Tomlin has proven he can win with Rudolph, but he should be a Plan-B just in case a solid option doesn’t fall to them.
In this mock, that option does end up making its way to the Steel City as Malik Willis is there for the taking. A former Auburn reserve, Willis transferred to Liberty where he was able to put his name on the map.
He makes as many plays with his legs as he does his arm and while he needs to clean up some of his erratic throws, his ability to take off and run makes him a player who can win right now with this roster.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 2 pick: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
After adding Malik Willis in the first round, the Steelers need to get to work on their offensive line. One of the reasons Big Ben was so successful in his career was his ability to get the ball out of his hands nearly as quickly as he caught the snap. Part of that was by design but part was due to an O-line that couldn’t sustain blocks for very long.
They address that with the selection of Bernhard Raimann from Central Michigan with their second-round pick. The 6-f00t-7, 305-pound Raimann checks off all the boxes and can be an intriguing option in the red zone on trick plays due to his experience as a tight end.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 3 pick: Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
With their third-round pick, the Steelers now add some much-needed youth to their cornerback corps. Nehemiah Pritchett projects as a boundary corner but has the skillset to play in the slot as well. He stands 6-foot-1 and 179-pounds and while he could use some more mass in his frame, he does have the height to give outside receivers problems.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 4 pick: Tyrese Robinson, IOL, Oklahoma
Back to the offensive line as the Steelers land Tyrese Robinson from Oklahoma with their fourth-round pick. A redshirt senior who weighs in at 334-pounds, Robinson is known for his ability as a run blocker. His addition should help make life easier on Najee Harris, which will in turn make life easier on Malik Willis who they took in Round 1.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 5 pick: Jeffrey Gunter, EDGE, Coastal Carolina
T.J. Watt tied the NFL record for most sacks in a single season with 22.5 this year. That gives him 72 in his first five seasons in the NFL, meaning they aren’t in desperate need of a pass rusher in Pittsburgh. That doesn’t mean they can’t use some depth, which is why they take Jeffrey Gunter from Coastal Carolina with their fifth-round pick.
Gunter rushed the passer from a linebacker position, making him a solid fit for the Steelers’ defense, and had 17 sacks in his final three collegiate seasons.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 6 pick: MarQuan McCall, NT, Kentucky
A 3-4 defense needs a true nose tackle and that’s what Pittsburgh gets with their sixth-round pick as they take MarQuan McCall from Kentucky. McCall is listed at 6-foot-3 and 379-pounds, making him a nightmare to block one-on-one.
Still, he’s a two-down player who missed a lot of time this past season. That’s why he slides to this point in the draft but his strength makes him worth taking a chance on.
Pittsburgh Steelers Round 7 pick: Merlin Robertson, LB, Arizona State
Early in his career with ASU, Merlin Robertson looked like he could sneak into the second day of the 2022 NFL Draft. However, he never really took his next step as a player and that’s why he lasts until late on the final day.
Pittsburgh gives him a shot as their final pick, as they hope he can develop into a solid special teams contributor with the ability to serve as a backup linebacker.