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2017 NFL Mock Draft: Deep in Defensive Players

By Carl Cockerham

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) and defensive lineman Reggie Chevis (13) celebrate a defensive stop against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) and defensive lineman Reggie Chevis (13) celebrate a defensive stop against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Idaho Vandals quarterback Matt Linehan (10) runs the ball while defended by Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Carl Lawson (55) during the second quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Idaho Vandals quarterback Matt Linehan (10) runs the ball while defended by Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Carl Lawson (55) during the second quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /

OLB. Auburn. Carl Lawson. 28. player. 55. The Pittsburgh Steelers have improved on defense since 2015 OLB Bud Dupree got healthy. Now, they look like the biggest threat to the New England Patriots AFC throne. We already knew they had the offensive firepower to threaten anyone in the NFL. <p>That young Steelers defensive front-7 will be much better when they get Cameron Heyward back next year. But an OLB on the other side of Dupree would make the unit scarry. James Harrison is great but his career has to end at some point so he needs replacing.</p> <p>And Carl Lawson is the perfect guy to replace Harrison as the image of the Steelers defense. He has plenty of burst off the edge with counter-moves and knows how to get to the QB. But what makes him the perfect replacement is his extreme physicality.</p> <p>He just might be more physical than Harrison as he has played some DT while at Auburn. They only reason why Lawson isn’t projected higher at this point is because he had some injuries. But the Steelers will be happy he fell this far and have a championship defense because of it. </p>

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