The Pittsburgh Steelers come into the 2024 NFL Draft after trading away QB Kenny Pickett, their first round selection from 2022. With Pickett gone, the team has two new quarterbacks in Justin Field and Russell Wilson. They haven’t invested in either quarterback for the long term, so the 2024 season will likely dictate what happens at QB in 2025 and beyond.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record in any of his 17 seasons with the team. That is good for the Steelers, but also means the team has never had a single-digit draft pick under his regime. Winning is great, but winning just enough without a franchise quarterback can leave a team in QB drat purgatory. That can easily be seen by the Steelers reaching for a middling Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft. They needed to at least try, but the odds were stacked against them, especially in a terrible draft for quarterbacks.
So here they are in 2024 with a veteran QB past his prime in Wilson and a young QB that couldn’t do enough to hold off the Bears soon to be No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. There is reason for hope that one of the two QBs can raise the offense from bad to not as bad and maybe slightly above average if they’re lucky.
Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs
The Steelers have a substantial list of draft needs, but some are more important than others. After trading away their WR1, Diontae Johnson, to the Panthers for a middling corner, wide receiver shoots up the list to No. 1. Of course, offensive line might be more important, as their pass blocking was awful last season and both Fields and Wilson take a lot of sacks.
The Steelers wide receiver depth chart is a who’s who of mediocrity after WR1 George Pickens. And yes, Pickens has shown tremendous ability, but he’s not a perfect WR1 by any means. Take away Johnson’s route running and ability to create separation and teams will throw their best effort to stop Pickens. Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, Calvin Austin, and Denzel Mims, etc. aren’t going to get the job done.
CB Joey Porter Jr. was a nice pick last year and a much needed one, as the overall pass defense was bad last season. They ranked second to last in explosive plays allowed, which is a stat that can kill your team week in and week out. Yes, the Steelers defense overall was fine, but you can’t give up back-breaking big pass plays and expect to win, especially when your offense is one of the worst in the league.
Cameron Heyward is the anchor for the defensive line, but age and injuries have him on the decline. Overall the interior line needs to get more pressure on the quarterback and be more adept at stopping the run. Of course, better offensive output would help the defense in field position and rest between drives, but they still need the players to make the plays.
Who should the Steelers take at 20?
It really comes down to wide receiver and offensive lineman. There is a chance they fall in love with one of the top corners and if he falls to them, they could pounce. But, overall, it makes the most sense to go after those two positions.
The Steelers have had great luck drafting wide receivers in the past and that could lead them to believe they can find the guy they want in the second round. This is a deep draft for wide receivers, so that feels like a valid route to take. Offensive line is strong in this draft as well, but many believe it is top-heavy, meaning you want to grab your pass protectors early.
Who might the Steelers be choosing between?
Offensive linemen
Taliese Fuaga, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Troy Fautanu, J.C. Latham, Amarius Mims, Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson are the linemen I like who have a chance to be there at 20. Fuaga, Fashanu, Fautanu and Latham could easily be gone by the time the Steelers get their turn, so if any of those four are there, I would expect them to pounce. Mims is the least NFL ready, but his traits put him right up there with this group. He likely needs more work to be ready for live action at tackle, but I would still consider him a good pick here.
Barton and Powers-Johnson are more-likely to be there and would be best suited for center, where the Steelers are also in need. I like them, but it would depend on what wide receivers are there still.
Wide receivers
LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. has a chance be there at No. 20, especially if offensive linemen fly off the board. After the Top 3 wide receivers, it’s tough to know how teams rank these guys. Thomas is the No. 4 receiver on a lot of big boards and very likely could go before the Steelers get a shot at him though. After Thomas, there is little consensus, but Adonai Mitchell is up there and probably the only other receiver I’d take here.
Final pick
If it comes down to Thomas or Mitchell vs. the interior offensive linemen, I’m leaning the wide receivers, but if any of the other linemen fall, I prefer them.
My gut call is that the 6’8”, 340 lbs. Amarius Mims will be the pick here and I like that for Pittsburgh despite his lack of experience. I do expect them to prioritize wide receiver in the second round and there are good ones out there. They may even trade up to grab the exact guy they want.