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By Buck Frank
bfrank@altoonamirror.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers possessed one glaring need when free agency began last month.
And they didn't address it.
With the NFL Draft beginning tonight in Detroit, the Steelers technically don't have a starting center on their roster. That's why the team should be thinking in that direction when they select their first pick at No. 20 -- barring a trade.
In free agency, the Steelers reshuffled their quarterback room (Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen), signed an inside linebacker (Patrick Queen), defensive lineman (Dean Lowry), safety (DeShon Elliott), punter (Cameron Johnston) running back/returner (Cordarrelle Patterson) and a couple of receivers (Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins), and they even traded for a cornerback (Donte Jackson).
But center wasn't dealt with, and it is still currently the weakest position on their team -- with last year's starter Mason Cole released and versatile backup guard Nate Herbig at the top of a very thin center depth chart.
The Steelers might be able to have their pick of the top centers in this year's draft. Duke's Graham Barton and Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson are considered the two centers available in this year's draft with first-round grades. West Virginia's Zach Frazier would be the next in line but doesn't grade out as a first-round talent.
Barton was mainly a left tackle at Duke but played center as a freshman and figures to be more effective in the NFL in the interior of the offensive line. Powers-Johnson played guard at Oregon for two years but was moved to center last season and won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center.
Of the two, Barton might be the better option for the Steelers because he can play multiple positions, and they seem to like their offensive linemen to be versatile.
The Steelers brought Barton, Powers-Johnson and Frazier all in for official draft visits within the last two weeks, so they know them well and are targeting them. It's just a matter of who might be available, if they trade up or down, or if someone with a high grade -- like an offensive tackle or wide receiver -- drops in the draft and is too good to ignore.
But the best option appears to be Barton with the first pick.
Other picks
If the Steelers get their center with the top pick, here are some possibilities for their six other picks -- again, barring a trade:
Second round (51): The Steelers need a wide receiver, and with many good ones available, the second round would be an ideal spot. That's where they selected George Pickens. Some receivers who might be on the Steelers' radar here are South Carolina's Xavier Legette and Florida State's Keon Coleman.
Third round (84): Many mock drafts have the Steelers taking an offensive tackle in the first round, but this is a deep draft for OTs. The Steelers might be able to get Notre Dame's Blake Fisher in this spot.
Third round (98): The Steelers could use a cornerback, someone who might eventually be able to play opposite Joey Porter Jr. If Rutgers' Max Melton is still available at this point, that would be a good pick for the team. If not, Kentucky's Andru Phillips -- the Steelers brought both Melton and Phillips in for pre-draft visits -- might be the pick.
Fourth round (119): The Steelers could use help on the defensive line, and LSU's Maason Smith or Austin Booker of Kansas would be worth a shot.
Sixth round (178): Inside linebacker is still a need, even with the signing of Queen. Ohio State's Tommy Eichenberg or Notre Dame's JD Bertrand were good tacklers in college.
Sixth round (195): The Steelers could go in any direction with this pick but it might be worth going after a slot receiver here. USC's Tahj Washington and Texas A&M's Ainias Smith could fit in this "slot.''
Buck Frank can be reached at bfrank@altoonamirror.com