(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“If I had a dollar for every mock draft I’ve seen…unfortunately, I don’t.”

Those words came from Beaver County Radio sports director Bob Barrickman, who joined Matt Drzik on the April 28 edition of A.M. Beaver County to talk about the 2022 NFL Draft. The hometown Pittsburgh Steelers select their first pick tonight at 20th overall, and much speculation has been presented on whether the Steelers will focus on finding a quarterback to compete for the starting job or if outgoing GM Kevin Colbert will shift his priorities elsewhere on the roster.

“I’m not real high on drafting a quarterback,” Barrickman said. “Malik Willis might be the sexier pick; seems like he has a lot of Lamar Jackson in him and has a rifle of an arm.” But Barrickman noted that he feels that Willis’ numbers might be the result of playing at a smaller school like Liberty, while another top quarterback–Pitt’s Kenny Pickett–played well against ACC competition. “Obviously with the tragic death of Dwayne Haskins, there will be a need to draft a quarterback,” he added, “I just don’t think there’s a need to draft one that early.”

Rather than focus on a QB, Barrickman feels that the Steelers should focus on the defensive side of the ball: “I think the player that they would really like to get would the nose tackle from Georgia, Jordan Davis. But I have a feeling that he won’t be on the board.” Barrickman acknowledged that the Steelers might have a shot if they move up, but thinks that he may drop to the Baltimore Ravens at 14th overall: “Jordan Davis would be a Raven-type of player. If he would slip by the Ravens, I could see the Steelers grabbing Jordan Davis in the first round.”

To hear the full analysis from Bob Barrickman, click on the player below!