Niner Noise
FanSided

2018 NFL Draft: Two-round mock for all 32 teams across the league

By Peter Panacy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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TUSCALOOSA, AL – OCTOBER 21: Rashaan Evans #32 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tackles Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL – OCTOBER 21: Rashaan Evans #32 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tackles Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

28. player. 55. . Inside Linebacker. Alabama. Rashaan Evans

It’s a shame the Pittsburgh Steelers have to look for a replacement at inside linebacker, following the back injury suffered by Ryan Shazier last season.

Shazier is out indefinitely and won’t play in 2018, meaning this position is suddenly pushed to the top of Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft board.

To addrress the need, the Steelers look to Alabama to find a playmaking linebacker capable of filling this void right away. Rashaan Evans played under the shadow of now-49ers linebacker Reuben Foster in 2016 but flourished last year.

While not as prominent as Foster, Evans still has the desirable sideline-to-sideline abilities and instinctive traits to keep him constantly around the ball.

That’s what Pittsburgh needs at the second level of defense right now.