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2015 NFL Mock Draft: Dorial Green-Beckham finds a home with Steelers

A rather surprising pick gives Ben Roethlisberger one of the most talented players in the draft.

Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a difficult position heading into the 2015 NFL Draft. With retirements across the board on defense - to big names like Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor, and Jason Worilds, no less - the team's identity on that side of the ball is very much in question at this time.

On offense, things look a little more stable, thanks to the emergence of Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown as top-tier options at their positions. Still, the draft is unpredictable at best, and Brendan Kennedy is on the clock making one of our more unexpected picks of the APC Mock Draft for the Steelers.

With the 22nd pick, Pittsburgh selects...

Dorial Green-Beckham, wide receiver, Missouri

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 237 pounds
Combine 40 time: 4.49 seconds

Here's Brendan on the selection:

It's been proven over the last decade or so that an elite wide receiver is one of the most unnecessary (and often overrated) components to a championship team. And you know what? I'm still taking Dorial Green-Beckham in the first round here. I've made no effort to hide my admiration for DGB as a talent and it's with good reason - the guy is in a different class of receiver. Even while playing with subpar quarterbacks at Mizzou, it was clear just how good DGB was - running past, through and around cornerbacks like the scrubs that - in comparison - they pretty much were.

That's not to say that DGB's skills will translate perfectly to the NFL. He's been out of football for a year, he's had off-field issues, and, lest we forget, guys like Justin Blackmon and Michael Crabtree were dominant college receivers, too.

Still, I love this pick for Pittsburgh. Their defense could still stand to get younger and they lost a good one when Jason Worilds retired this off-season, but talent is talent. And you'd be hard pressed to find much more of it in players other than DGB. With a disciplinarian like Mike Tomlin and a legit quarterback in Roethisberger, the Steelers might just be the perfect destination to see DGB realize his full potential. And if he does - look out.

Pick Team Player Position School
1 TB Jameis Winston QB Florida State
2 TEN Leonard Williams DT USC
3 JAX Amari Cooper WR Alabama
4 OAK Randy Gregory OLB/DE Nebraska
5 WAS Dante Fowler, Jr. OLB Florida
6 NYJ Marcus Mariota QB Oregon
7 CHI Vic Beasley OLB Clemson
8 ATL Brandon Scherff OT Iowa
9 NYG Kevin White WR West Virginia
10 STL La'el Collins OT LSU
11 MIN DeVante Parker WR Louisville
12 CLE Danny Shelton DT Washington
13 NO Trae Waynes CB Michigan State
14 MIA Marcus Peters CB Washington
15 SF Malcom Brown DT Texas
16 HOU Landon Collins S Alabama
17 SD T.J. Clemmings OL Pittsburgh
18 KC Andrus Peat OT Stanford
19 CLE (from BUF) Ereck Flowers OT Miami (FL)
20 PHI Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State
21 CIN D.J. Humphries OT Florida
22 PIT Dorial Green-Beckham WR Missouri
23 DET