Steelers

NFL Mock Draft 2013: Is Cordarrelle Patterson a fit for the Steelers?

Will the Steelers still be targeting a wide receiver?

By Craig Powers@TheCraigPowers Apr 18, 2013, 8:00am EDT

The Pittsburgh Steelers have become more and more pass-oriented in recent years with Ben Rothliesberger at the helm, and they may be looking to give the quarterback another weapon in this year's draft. Many pundits have the Steelers picking a wide receiver with the No. 17 selection.

More: Steelers blog Behind the Steel Curtain

SB Nation's Matthew Fairburn projected the Steelers to pick Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson on Monday, believing he could be a replacement for departed receiver Mike Wallace. Fairburn also believed the Steelers could draft Patterson if they were to lose another starting receiver:

With the departure of Mike Wallace, and the possible departure of Emmanuel Sanders, the Steelers need to find a receiver to play opposite Antonio Brown. Cordarrelle Patterson's ability to make plays in the vertical passing game would be a huge asset for Pittsburgh's offense.

Sanders will be staying in Pittsburgh. Will that mean a change in priorities for the Steelers? Fairburn wasn't the only mock drafter sending Patterson to the Steel City. NFL.com's Bucky Brooks seconded that notion. His colleague Matt Smith also went the wide receiver route with Cal's Keenan Allen.

Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah believe Pittsburgh will draft their next potential dominant linebacker by grabbing Georgia's Jarvis Jones. That line of thinking may be more accurate with Sanders hanging around Pittsburgh.