Steelers might have to be aggressive to land Zach Frazier

As Zach Frazier's NFL stock continues to rise, it's becoming clear the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to be aggressive if they hope to land the West Virginia offensive lineman. 

With fellow top prospect Jackson Powers-Johnson believed by most experts to be the first center off the board, that then leaves Frazier next in line. 

Frazier fits everything Mike Tomlin normally loves in a player — he's athletic, intelligent and mature. But unfortunately for Tomlin and Pittsburgh, where they pick in the early rounds — No. 20 in the first round and No. 51 in the second — may require movement in order to secure the stud center who played college football about 70 miles south at WVU. 

According to Pro Football Focus' Steve Palazzolo, Pittsburgh's biggest competitor for Frazier is the Dallas Cowboys. During a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Palazzolo made it known he does not believe Frazier will fall past the Cowboys at pick No. 24, meaning the Steelers would have to select the Fairmont, West Virginia native in the first round. 

While some mock drafts still do project Frazier as going in the second round, it's safe to say he's unlikely to be around at pick No. 51. And based on what former offensive lineman turned NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said on The Krueg Show with Larry Krueger, the Steelers and Cowboys may very well not be the only teams with a first round grade on Frazier. 

"I texted a personnel director the first day I watched him, and I just said, can Zach Frazier start at center for you? And he goes, right now." said Baldinger. "Yeah, he’s our starting center ... literally texting me back in real-time. He could be our starting center."

With that said, the Steelers "absolutely love" Frazier, a source told Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. DeFabo reports the Steelers are extremely high on Frazier's ceiling as a pro. If that's the case, Tomlin and general manger Omar Khan may have to just pull the trigger on drafting Frazier in the first round.  

The Steelers have an incredibly rich history at the center position, highlighted by past all-time greats Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson and even more recently with Maurkice Pouncey. Webster and Dawson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Pouncey may very well end up in Canton with them someday.  

Pittsburgh is hoping they can find their next blue chip center in this year’s draft. West Virginia longtime play-by-play voice Tony Caridi believes Frazier would fit the bill. In fact, Caridi feels Frazier was born to be a Steeler.

"I would take 12 Zach Frazier’s on my team. I think he’d be a perfect fit for the Steelers," Caridi said on 93.7 The Fan when asked his thoughts on the possibility Frazier could be drafted by the nearest NFL franchise to Morgantown.