2011 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft - The Pittsburgh Steelers Select...

For the thirty-first pick in the second-annual Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, Jason Garrison selected for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have the standard three picks available. Here is the pick...

With the thirty-first pick in the 2011 Cincy Jungle Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select...

Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

I’m sure any Pittsburgh fans on this site are screaming, "NO, WE NEED AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN!"

I have three things to say to you: 1. Why are you on Cincy Jungle as a Steelers fan. 2. I don’t like you. And 3. I would have taken an offensive lineman for the Steelers with this pick, but there have already been six offensive linemen taken so far and this is considered a draft in which the offensive linemen were fairly weak. So, I resorted to drafting a cornerback, which is arguably the Steelers’ second biggest need.

Enter Jimmy Smith.

Steelers safety Troy Palamalu may have already sealed his fate as a future hall of famer and he may define the Steeler secondary, but he can’t be everywhere at once. A weakness for the Steelers has been at the cornerback position and it’s about to get even weaker. William Gay and Ike Taylor, mediocre cornerbacks at best, are both free agents and Anthony Madison is still a work in progress.

The Steelers were ranked at No. 12 in pass defense during the regular season, averaging 214.1 yards per game, which is a little low for the Steelers typical defense. Jimmy Smith can help boost the Steelers secondary back where it belongs. He’s a physical corner that has no problem with a bump and run style of play and has good quick feet to allow him to maintain contact while in the five-yard area. The 6-2, 211 pounder is also good in run support, and can help the Steelers defend against running backs that get outside the defensive ends.

While I would have preferably taken an offensive lineman with the No. 31 overall pick, too many have been taken already and there just aren’t any left that would justify a first-round pick. Jimmy Smith is the clear choice here because he can help the Steelers fill one of the other biggest holes in their depth chart because he’s a physical corner that could easily move into a starting role, boosting their pass defense as well as their run defense.

Jimmy Smith Highlights:

Draft Overview: