2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round after pro days, trades
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Quarterback. Louisville. Lamar Jackson. 28. 55
Needs: QB, ILB, DB
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to draft for the future with their first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. With Lamar Jackson falling to the Steelers at 28th overall, they won’t be able to pass on the playmaking quarterback.
The hotly debated Jackson does have NFL size at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and is the epitome of a modern era quarterback. Jackson waited to throw at his pro day and impressed scouts with his accuracy and arm strength. According to the Courier Journal, Jackson scored a 13 on the Wonderlic Intelligence Test but Dan Marino and Jim Kelly scored 16 and 15 and it didn’t seem to hurt their Hall of Fame careers.
Then again, Jackson threw for over 9,000 yards averaging 8.3 yards per attempt while also rushing for over 4,000 yards and scoring 119 career touchdowns at Louisville. Jackson can sit and learn the game behind Ben Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls as the quarterback of the Steelers, and digest the playbook and life of an NFL passer until he moves on.
Big Ben has taken a lot of hits and sacks over his career and the Steelers can use a formidable backup now, while grooming that player to be a starter of the future.