Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano at No. 21 overall in his latest mock draft.
"The Steelers might need to realize that Broderick Jones might be just an injury-riddled left tackle bust. Fano can be a better answer up front for Aaron Rodgers with his quickness and athleticism in pass protection, coming in a nice frame," Iver wrote.
Fano, who stands at 6-foot-6, 308 pounds, was a three-year starter at Utah with experience at both tackle spots.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com tabbed Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O'Neil has Fano's comp.
"Fano lacks ideal proportional build but compensates with loose hips, quick feet and high-end athleticism. He has the tools to mirror speed rushers, wall off the top of the pocket and find a late anchor when taking the worst of a bull rush," Zierlein wrote in his scouting report on Fano. "He needs to stay square longer to prevent inside moves and refine his punch approach/timing. His athletic profile is designed for move-based blocking schemes where he can pull, reach and climb while beating opponents to the spot with quickness/feel for hitting landmarks on time. He gives good effort as a downhill blocker but issues with pad level and core strength lead to him being overtaken as the rep progresses. Fano's level of NFL success might be tied to scheme fit and individual matchups."
Steelers general manager Omar Khan must choose whether to pick up left tackle Broderick Jones ' fifth-year option by May 1. Jones, a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, also suffered a neck injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. It sounds like that's a factor Khan is considering as he weighs whether to secure Jones past next season.
"Obviously, he had a significant injury and we're monitoring how he progresses," Khan said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I know he's working hard. It's early in the process. That's certainly something that we're monitoring."
Jones started 11 games at left tackle last season, taking over for Dan Moore Jr. , who left to join the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Jones mainly played right tackle before that.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Indianapolis.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Land Behemoth Offensive Lineman in Latest Mock Draft
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