NFL Mock Draft 5.0: Could Saquon Barkley fall to the Redskins at No. 13?

Ryan Shazier is on the road to recovery after a scary spinal injury suffered during the regular season, and if he continues to progress, he should be ready for the 2018 season. But Shazier’s absence revealed a dangerous weakness on the Steelers’ defense: Lack of depth in the middle.

The fill-ins for Shazier never came close to nullifying the loss of the All-Pro linebacker. In the team’s AFC Divisional matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, Blake Bortles (yes, Blake Bortles) tore apart the defense by going up the middle time and time again. The Steelers didn’t have an answer. In the future, if injuries hurt them once again, then they need a solid insurance plan. Tremaine Edmunds can be that player.

Edmunds is a raw prospect at inside linebacker, but he has clear and tantalizing potential. The Virginia Tech product possesses long arms and harrowing strength. He has the speed to cover the entire field, and his stock has been steadily rising throughout the draft process.

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Edmunds could go earlier than this slot, but there’s also a real chance he makes it this far, with all the talent at other positions. With this pick in the NFL Draft, the Steelers ensure that if they suffer another loss in the linebacking core, they won’t suffer the same consequences they did in 2017.