Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers made another quick exit from the 2023 NFL playoffs, and they began to improve the team through free agency and will again at this year’s NFL Draft. Pittsburgh receives the 20th pick in the first round with seven picks in total by the conclusion of the three-day selection process, assuming that GM Omar Khan doesn’t move up or down during the process.

In this mock draft however, Khan does move around a bit. The Steelers have two picks in the 3rd and 6th rounds and no picks in the 5th and 7th rounds. This mock theorizes that the Steelers package their two 6th Round picks to get back into the 5th round.

1st Round Pick #20:

It’s highly possible that teams like Philadelphia or Tampa Bay trade up in the first round to get the player they want, as both teams lost their starting centers to retirement this offseason. If they leapfrog the Steelers at #20, the Steelers decide to wait on their center of the future and instead opt to select Byron Murphy II, Texas DT. Murphy could play immediately and will also serve as the team’s future replacement for their aging star, Cam Heyward. Murphy is the best defensive interior lineman in this year’s class and is excellent against the run. He can step into a defensive line rotation that needs help doing just that.

2nd Round Pick #51:

If the Steelers pass on the center position in round one, they need to choose between the next best center or instead choose a wide receiver since they traded disgruntled wideout Diontae Johnson to Carolina before the draft.

From the latest rankings, Graham Barton of Duke has moved up many war room board to be the top center. Presuming he’s gone in round one, The Steelers will draft Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon C. Many mocks have Powers-Johnson sliding down into the second round and the Steelers may have to move up to get him. He is solid in pass protection but even better at helping with the running attack, since everyone knows that the Steelers will be a run first offense with Harris and Warren in the backfield.

3rd Round Pick #84:

The Steelers need to add to their wide receiver room and the third round is where they can find value in a deep crop of pass catchers. Pittsburgh takes Jermaine Burton, WR Alabama to help complement their best receiver, George Pickens. Burton can be that possession receiver that the Steelers need, allowing Pickens to be the big play maker as WR1.

3rd Round Pick #98:

Pittsburgh has a second third round pick, which allows them to add another talented player early. The Steelers will draft Christian Jones, Texas OT. Jones provides depth right away and be the possible starting RT when coach Tomlin decides to move last year’s first round pick Broderick Jones to his natural position at LT.

4th Round Pick #119:

The Steelers need a third cornerback who can start if needed like Joey Porter Jr. ended up doing last season. Pittsburgh will draft Cam Hart, Notre Dame CB, hoping that he is still available for them in the fourth round. Hart can will fill the void at slot corner and has the size and length to play outside if one of the starters get hurt during the season.

5th Round Pick #166:

The Steelers decide to package both 6th Round picks, #178 and #195, trading them to the New York Giants for the #166 pick in the 5th round. Both teams benefit as Pittsburgh moves up to get the guy they want and the Giants accumulate more picks, with one of them being almost at the beginning of round 6.

The Steelers draft Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest Safety. Malik gives Pittsburgh the safety to play opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick, which they couldn’t find over the last several years. Mustapha can play near the line of scrimmage as he is strong at stopping the run and is above average in not missing the tackles. This will give Fitzpatrick more room to roam the defensive backfield and grab the interceptions that he has been known for.