Who PITshould take — each prospect's model grade, weighted up where the roster is thin, so highly graded players at positions PIT needs rise to the top.
| Rank↑ | Player | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leonard Moorerank#2$13M CBBlue Chip· Notre Dame· model #2· critical need | 0.94 |
| 2 | KJ Boldenrank#8$8M S1st Round· Georgia· model #8· critical need | 0.91 |
| 3 | Jeremiah Smithrank#1$14M WRBlue Chip· Ohio State· model #1· clear need | 0.84 |
| 4 | Dante Moorerank#7 QB1st Round· Oregon· model #7· critical need | 0.84 |
| 5 | Cam Colemanrank#6$9M WRBlue Chip· Texas· model #6· clear need | 0.81 |
| 6 | Arch Manningrank#11 QB1st Round· Texas· model #11· critical need | 0.79 |
| 7 | S1st Round· Oregon· model #22· critical need | 0.78 |
| 8 | Colin Simmonsrank#4$11M EDGEBlue Chip· Texas· model #4 | 0.78 |
| 9 | Trevor Goosbyrank#3$12M OTBlue Chip· Texas· model #3 | 0.77 |
| 10 | CB1st Round· Miami· model #25· critical need | 0.77 |
| 11 | Ryan Williamsrank#10$8M WR1st Round· Alabama· model #10· clear need | 0.76 |
| 12 | CB1st Round· Illinois· model #26· critical need | 0.76 |
| 13 | Jordan Seatonrank#5$10M OTBlue Chip· LSU· model #5 | 0.75 |
| 14 | Julian Sayinrank#14 QB1st Round· Ohio State· model #14· critical need | 0.74 |
| 15 | Ellis Robinson IVrank#32$4M CB1st Round· Georgia· model #32· critical need | 0.73 |
| 16 | William Echolesrank#9$8M DL1st Round· Ole Miss· model #9 | 0.73 |
| 17 | Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asarank#12$7M LB1st Round· Notre Dame· model #12 | 0.71 |
| 18 | SDay 2· Clemson· model #43· critical need | 0.69 |
| 19 | Brauntae Johnsonrank#44$3M SDay 2· Notre Dame· model #44· critical need | 0.69 |
| 20 | Kewan Lacyrank#17$5M RB1st Round· Ole Miss· model #17· clear need | 0.69 |
| 21 | Zabien Brownrank#46$3M CBDay 2· Alabama· model #46· critical need | 0.68 |
| 22 | LaNorris Sellersrank#29 QB1st Round· South Carolina· model #29· critical need | 0.68 |
| 23 | SDay 2· LSU· model #54· critical need | 0.67 |
| 24 | Cayden Greenrank#13$7M OT1st Round· Missouri· model #13 | 0.65 |
| 25 | Rasheem Bilesrank#15$6M ATH1st Round· Texas· model #15 | 0.65 |
| 26 | Ryan Wingorank#28$4M WR1st Round· Texas· model #28· clear need | 0.65 |
| 27 | DL1st Round· Iowa· model #18 | 0.64 |
| 28 | David Stonerank#19$5M DL1st Round· Oklahoma· model #19 | 0.64 |
| 29 | QBDay 2· LSU· model #37· critical need | 0.64 |
| 30 | Kelley Jonesrank#68$2M SDay 2· Mississippi State· model #68· critical need | 0.64 |
| 31 | Dylan Stewartrank#24$4M EDGE1st Round· South Carolina· model #24 | 0.64 |
| 32 | SDay 2· Ohio State· model #75· critical need | 0.64 |
| 33 | Jamari Johnsonrank#21$5M ATH1st Round· Oregon· model #21 | 0.64 |
| 34 | CBDay 2· Indiana· model #80· critical need | 0.63 |
| 35 | Jadan Baughrank#23$4M ATH1st Round· Florida· model #23 | 0.63 |
| 36 | OT1st Round· Iowa· model #16 | 0.63 |
| 37 | Brice Pollockrank#85$2M CBDay 2· Texas Tech· model #85· critical need | 0.63 |
| 38 | Nate Frazierrank#33$4M RBDay 2· Georgia· model #33· clear need | 0.62 |
| 39 | G1st Round· Ohio State· model #20 | 0.62 |
| 40 | WRDay 2· Arizona State· model #35· clear need | 0.62 |
| 41 | A'Mauri Washingtonrank#27$4M DL1st Round· Oregon· model #27 | 0.62 |
| 42 | Nick Marshrank#36$4M WRDay 2· Indiana· model #36· clear need | 0.62 |
| 43 | CBDay 2· Syracuse· model #95· critical need | 0.61 |
| 44 | Darian Mensahrank#47 QBDay 2· Miami· model #47· critical need | 0.61 |
| 45 | Adam Trickrank#30$4M LB1st Round· Texas Tech· model #30 | 0.61 |
| 46 | SDay 3· Notre Dame· model #106· critical need | 0.59 |
| 47 | Quincy Rhodes Jr.rank#31$4M DL1st Round· Arkansas· model #31 | 0.59 |
| 48 | Sammy Brownrank#34$4M LBDay 2· Clemson· model #34 | 0.59 |
| 49 | QBDay 2· Notre Dame· model #57· critical need | 0.58 |
| 50 | Mark Fletcher Jr.rank#49$3M RBDay 2· Miami· model #49· clear need | 0.57 |
Pittsburgh's stated needs—specialist, secondary, quarterback—don't intersect with the house mock's answer at 52: Illinois receiver Hank Beatty. Meanwhile Dashawn Spears sits 54th on the model, 22nd in the room, one of the rare names here the room likes more than the algorithm does. That's a safety, addressing the actual need, still sitting there. Chris Cole's split runs far wider in the opposite direction, but Spears is the value that actually matches necessity. If Pittsburgh drafts by need instead of by mock, Beatty isn't walking off this board — Spears is.
Written by our models from the live board; every name and number checked