By Buck Frank

bfrank@altoonamirror.com

Most of the recent mock drafts predict the Steelers will select an offensive tackle or cornerback with their first pick in the NFL Draft tonight.

The Steelers certainly have need at those positions, and they might have a chance with the 17th pick to get one of the top prospects at tackle or corner, or maybe even a highly regarded defensive lineman or edge rusher.

With the recent trade for veteran Allen Robinson, wide receiver, on the surface, would not appear to be at the top of the Steelers’ wish list. But if they truly want to take the best player available, one certain receiver could very well be the most ideal pick.

Southern Cal receiver Jordan Addison has been projected to be a first-round pick who could still be on the board for the Steelers. If he is, the Steelers might be wise to reunite him with quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Addison won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation in 2021 when he played for Pitt and was catching passes from Heisman finalist Pickett.

The two worked to improve their games after the 2020 season and developed a strong rapport that was a big reason Pitt won the 2021 ACC championship.

Pickett had no problems throwing deep passes to Addison on fourth-and-short plays and many times found him open on plays that broke down or were extended.

The Steelers have Diontae Johnson, potential future star George Pickens and now Robinson in their receiving room — along with unproven Calvin Austin, who was injured his entire rookie season — but Addison would add another dimension.

He can line up in the slot, run jet sweeps and work the middle of the field, or he can run deep and intermediate routes.

Pickett threw 20 touchdowns of 20-plus yards for Pitt in 2021, and 11 of them were to Addison.

The Steelers offense, with Pickett as a rookie, only had two touchdown passes of 20 yards or longer with the farthest being 31 yards last season. They did not score more than three touchdowns in any game.

Clearly, that’s an area the Steelers need to upgrade if they’re going to compete in the AFC against the likes of the Chiefs and Bills, who each scored 30-plus points eight times during the regular season, and the Bengals, who did it five times.

The Bengals hooked up quarterback Joe Burrow with his main college target, Ja’Marr Chase, in his second NFL season, and the Bengals went to the Super Bowl and nearly made it back again last year. The Bengals accomplished that despite not having a great offensive line.

The Steelers beefed up their offensive line during free agency — although not at tackle — and they signed corner Patrick Peterson along with a couple of safeties to strengthen the secondary.

They currently have four other picks in the top 120, so they can still get a promising cornerback, tackle, edge rusher, etc. The draft is deep enough at those positions to make bypassing on them in the first round not damaging.

Every first-round projected pick — including Addison — has at least one question mark. None is a 100-percent lock to be a future NFL Pro Bowler. The Steelers know that well after trading up to take Devin Bush with the 10th pick in 2019, and he never became more than an average player.

The Steelers can’t miss on this one.

Having a bunch of dangerous skill players on offense is a must in today’s NFL, especially if your quarterback is not, at least yet, at the level of Burrow, Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen.

Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is another top receiver that could be a good fit for the Steelers. Addison, though, because of his already developed chemistry with Pickett, could make a bigger impact immediately.

If the Steelers want to take a big leap from a .500 team to Super Bowl contender this year, Pickett’s continuing improvement is a necessity.

In tonight’s draft, Addison would be the best possible help in that area.

Buck Frank can be reached at 946-7461 or bfrank@altoonamirror.com