I would actually, unironically, suggest the CGR-1A1 Charger. Helped me out a bit when I was first playing beyond the old box set.
Point at enemy. Run at them. Absorb fire and crush lighter Mechs in physical combat, destroy buildings, step on tanks, survive to get off the other side of the board, spot for indirect fire, or hug objectives. Only 981 BV. Plenty of room to pump up that Piloting Skill in order to bring the pain. Yes it can get obliterated by the greater firepower in later eras, but most of the other Mechs in the same price range will go down even easier because Pulse/TC/etc. negate the protection that their speed offers and they're not as durable.
Bully/objective hugger/spotter/physical combat specialist covers enough tactical bandwidth that I don't think it qualifies as an edge case. I always find a use for one, even later on.