Former Pitt offensive lineman Brian O’Neill may not have played his last game at Heinz Field. In fact, if the opinion of ESPN analyst Mel Kiper is anything to go by, he could be back at least once a year as an AFC North rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In a mock draft posted Thursday morning at ESPN.com, Kiper predicted O’Neill would be selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, going to the Baltimore Ravens at 16th overall.
The draft analyst broke down the rationale for his prediction:
Right tackle Austin Howard didn’t have a great year in pass protection, and the Ravens could find an immediate upgrade with O’Neill, a former tight end who kept his athleticism as he put on weight and moved to tackle.