New England Patriots: Full 2018 first round NFL mock draft

PIT No. 28 Overall Pick: Boise St. ILB, Leighton Vander Esch

The Steelers suffered a big loss last season when linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal cord injury. Shazier is improving, but his football future is in doubt. Without him, the Steelers defense suffered. Shazier is a sideline-to-sideline player whose ranginess and playmaking was missed.

With Shazier’s future in doubt, linebacker, specifically an inside linebacker, is an area of need for Pittsburgh. They begin to fill that need with their first-round pick, selecting Boise State linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch, with the No. 28 overall pick.

Vander Esch is a former walk-on at Boise State. 2017 was his first season as a starter and he made the most of it. He finished the season with 141 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two interceptions, five passes defended and four forced fumbles.

Like Shazier, Vander Esch is a sideline-to-sideline run defender. He has a rare combination of size, length and athleticism, something the Steelers lack without Shazier in the lineup.

Finding an impact player later in the draft, where Pittsburgh is normally selecting, is not easy to do. Vander Esch has a high ceiling and could develop into an above average starter. His skill set is exactly what the Steelers need to help get the defense back on track.