The start of the regular season is a few weeks away, but that hasn't stopped ESPN from looking toward 2027, specifically what next year's NFL Draft has in store for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In a brand-new mock draft, ESPN predicts the Steelers will pass on a quarterback and instead target one of the top safety prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft class: Brauntae Johnson of Notre Dame.
"The Steelers are another team that could be in the quarterback mix with Aaron Rodgers set to retire after the season. But with the top three QBs off the board, the Steelers could instead look to get a youth infusion at safety, especially considering that Jaquan Brisker is on a one-year deal," ESPN's Jordan Reid wrote. "Johnson is my highest-ranked safety entering the season despite
being relatively inexperienced. His combination of instincts, ball skills and enthusiasm crashing downhill in run support makes him a high-upside prospect."
With Brisker only signed with Pittsburgh on a one-year deal and Elliott set to turn 30 before the start of the 2027 season, the safety position could definitely be one area the Steelers heavily address next offseason.
Still, there are plenty of other roster needs the Steelers could solve via the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft, such as offensive guard, linebacker, or cornerback, depending on how the Joey Porter Jr. situation plays out.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers acquire top safety prospect in new 2027 NFL mock draft
