Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Draft 2024 guide: Selections, forecasts, and essential requirements
When the first round of the NFL Draft gets underway in Detroit on April 25, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have the 20th pick. With one pick in the first, one in the second, and two in the third round, the Steelers will have seven picks overall in the seven-round draft, including four picks inside the top 100.
Complete draft order
Each selection in the NFL Draft’s seven rounds.
Details of the NFL Draft
• First round: April 25, 8:00 PM ET
• Rounds 2-3: 7:00 p.m. ET on April 26
• April 27, 12:00 ET, for Rounds 4–7
Every round will air on NFL Network, ESPN/ABC, and ESPN Deportes in Spanish.
Regarding the Steelers: General manager Omar Khan (second full season with team) and head coach Mike Tomlin (18th season with team)
• Previous year’s record: 10-7 (wild-card playoff loss at Buffalo)
The Steelers’ pathetic offense made it into the postseason in 2023 thanks to an astute defense and a running attack that flourished in the latter stages. The recipe ought to be the same this year. There’s reason to think the defense will be just as excellent, if not better, than it was the previous season, when it finished sixth in scoring. This is assuming T.J. Watt stays healthy. Arthur Smith, the new offensive coordinator, should bring attention to a potent running back combo. The true query is: Can Justin Fields or Russell Wilson ignite the passing game to propel the Steelers into the realm of serious contenders?
The essential position demands for the Steelers
Center: The Steelers left a clear hole in the middle of the offensive line when they cut Mason Cole. As backup lineman Nate
is center-capable, Pittsburgh will most likely make a more significant effort to address center, maybe as early as the first or second round. Looking for a center? This is an especially ideal year to do so. Jackson Powers-Johnson of Oregon, Graham Barton of Duke, and Zach Frazier of West Virginia are the three that could advance past the first round. If the Steelers are unable to choose any of those top picks, there are a few more players to watch later in the draft, such as Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia and Tanor Bortolini of Wisconsin.
Wide receiver: In the past, the Steelers have not discovered a hidden gem at receiving until the mid-to-late rounds. But with the new front office and the needs, the strategy might be altered this season. The wide receiver position was drastically altered by the Steelers when they traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Entering his third season, George Pickens provides them a legitimate No. 1 whose big-play talent complements Wilson’s trademark long ball. However, behind him? Candidates for the Steelers include Cordarrelle Patterson, Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, and third-year receiver Calvin Austin III, all of whom were signed as free agents.
The Steelers have alternatives because of those various body types and playing styles, but ideally they would select a new No. 2 receiver in the draft. Around the second or fourth round, this position should be addressed.
Offensive tackle: When the Steelers selected Broderick Jones in the first round of the previous season, they obviously wanted to find an improvement over left tackle Dan Moore Jr. Khan stated at the combine that Jones, a 2023 first-round choice, will eventually move to left tackle even though he settled in at right tackle. Thus, a right tackle addresses yet another crucial demand. Given that 10 tackles are listed among the top 63 players on Dane Brugler’s big board, this might be a good year to find one.
Defensive tackle: Keeanu Benton’s development into a significant player last season was a positive sign for the Steelers that their D-line investment was worthwhile. The unfavorable report? With Larry Ogunjobi experiencing some inconsistent play and Cameron Heyward battling injuries, the Steelers still need to bring in fresh, youthful talent to this position group. Now is the moment to start planning for the future.
Defensive back: The situation of the Steelers’ secondary is intriguing. Although corner Joey Porter Jr. showed promise as a rookie and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is a regular Pro Bowl player, Pittsburgh could realistically improve at every other position on the back end, including outside corner, nickel, and even safety.
Donte Jackson appears to be the front-runner to begin, in contrast to Porter. Another alternative is Cory Trice Jr., a seventh-round selection from the previous draft who missed his first campaign due to a knee injury. However, given that Trice is a seventh-round pick who just recovered from a serious injury and that Jackson was nearly cut by Carolina, the Steelers may want to look into this situation if the proper guy is available. It’s also important to remember that a lot of the top corners are anticipated to go in the same general vicinity as the Steelers’ first-round selection.
Analysis of the Steelers draft
Before the draft, the Steelers’ depth chart was reset.
The NFL Draft is full of OL candidates, and the Steelers need them. This is one way they could go about it.
The Steelers select another wide receiver, but there are still opportunities in this “unusually deep” draft.
The General Manager of the Steelers, known as “Khan Artist” or “King Khan,” is living up to his moniker.
It worked to trade up for Broderick Jones. Why not give it another go?
