Does Pittsburgh find the final anchor for their offensive line in Rounds 2 or 3?
We’re just hours out from the start of Day 2 of the NFL Draft, where the Pittsburgh Steelers hold picks 51, 84 and 98 on Friday evening. After addressing arguably the most crucial need (based on positional value in the draft) with Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, the Steelers can now look to fill out the rest of their needs — of which, there are several.
With Broderick Jones and Fautanu anchoring the offensive line at tackle, the Steelers still need a center — literally, any center, without one currently rostered at this point in the offseason. They also have a big need at wide receiver, with just Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin and… Quez Watkins (?) in the mix to lineup alongside George Pickens. Then, there’s the need at cornerback, without much beyond recently acquired Donte Jackson in the mix to line up opposite Joey Porter. Oh, then there’s the defensive line, where the Steelers should probably be looking to secure their future as an aging Cam Heyward approaches what could be the end of his professional career.
So yeah… there’s still a lot of work for Steelers GM Omar Khan to do in order to get this roster into viable shape for the season.
Taking a look at various 2024 Day 2 NFL Mock drafts around the league, wide receiver and cornerback are among the most popular positional selections for the Pittsburgh Steelers, addressing both of those positions in four of five industry mock drafts, presented below.
Most interestingly, perhaps, is the fact that the Steelers were projected to take a center in just two of those five mock drafts, which would be a particularly ominous gaping hole in the roster heading into Day 3. That would either force a shakeup in the current projected offensive line rotation (maybe slide RG James Daniels to center…?) or have backup OL Nate Herbig or Spencer Anderson in line as a potential starter.
Here’s a look at the selections in each of the mock drafts we polled ahead of Rounds 2 and 3.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
- Pick No. 51 — Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
- Pick 84 — Jermain Burton, WR, Alabama
- Pick 98 — Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville
Lance Zierlein, NFL Network
- Pick No. 51 — Keon Coleman, WR, FSU
- Pick 84 — Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
- Pick 98 — Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
John Kosko and Trevor Sikkema, PFF
- Pick No. 51 — Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
- Pick 84 — Maason Smith, DT, LSU
- Pick 98 — Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated
- Pick No. 51 — Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
- Pick 84 — Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
- Pick 98 — T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
- Pick No. 51 — Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
- Pick 84 — Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
- Pick 98 — Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
Now, it’s time to vote!