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

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.