Steelers aren’t ’overly thirsty’ in quest to address any one need in NFL Draft

The task of creating the best football team you can is never easy in the NFL. 

That is especially true in the draft, where Pittsburgh has to weigh drafting for need, vs. taking the best player available. 

But if you listened to Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan during their pre-draft presser, you can see why the former part of team building may be more prevalent than the latter:

Steelers May Go Best Player Available

“We’ve been very active in free agency and that makes you really comfortable as you lean in on draft weekend," Mike Tomlin said at the team's pre-draft presser. We’ve addressed a lot of needs, so don’t feel overly thirsty in any particular area."

While I agree with Coach Tomlin regarding their activity and free agency, and I am a big proponent of the best player available over need, there are certain holes on the Steelers roster that are just too glaring to leave unaddressed within the first two rounds. 

The main position I'm speaking to is WR. where other than George Pickens, their best option is probably Van Jefferson, who while he has a Super Bowl ring, has been best as a third or fourth option on a stacked team. 

There is also an argument to be made that running back the offensive line without an upgrade at center and tackle is insanity, especially when analyzing the fact that Pittsburgh's starting center has one game of starting experience. 

According to Tomlin and Khan, however, they feel good about the projection of the position, citing players like Nick Herbig as being "flexible positionally," which may point to a later-round selection when it comes to that position. 

Either way, using the best payer available strategy is smart....

When you're a perennial Super Bowl contender. 

But for the current state of the Pittsburg Steelers roster, drafting for need will get this team much closer to their goals than drafting strictly by draft grades. 

So barring an unforeseen slide of a CB or EDGE rusher, Pittssburgh is better off going OT and WR in rounds one and two.