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NFL Mock Draft 2013: Steelers grab Jesse Williams in latest mock draft

Pittsburgh gets a chance to beef up the defensive line.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to do some retooling on both sides of the ball. Injuries made 2012 a season to forget for the Steelers. The 2013 NFL Draft should give the Steelers a chance to land a talented play on defense, though.

For more on this story, check out Behind the Steel Curtain and Mocking the Draft.

In SB Nation's latest mock draft, we have the Steelers selected Alabama defensive tackle Jesse Williams, who would be an ideal fit in Pittsburgh's defense. Williams gets pushed down to a deep and talented crop of defensive tackles at the top. He doesn't present the pass rush upside that Star Lotulelei, Sheldon Richardson or Sharrif Floyd do, but he's one of the best space eaters in this draft class.

With Richardson and Loutulelei long gone, the Steelers take Williams ahead of Floyd due to the fact that he could instantly plug the middle of Pittsburgh's defensive line and make the rest of the defense better. It's about time the Steelers add some young talent to middle of the defensive line.

Here's our explanation for the pick:

The Steelers' roster suddenly has quite a few holes. The team once again struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball this season. An upgrade in the middle of the defensive line would give the team a whole different feel on that side of the ball. Jesse Williams proved he can eat up double teams and dominate the point of attack at Alabama this season. He would fit in nicely in Pittsburgh.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.