Steelers draft: Predicting the best available players at pick 24

The Steelers will have to wait until the 24th pick to make their selection in the NFL Draft. Here are the players likely to be available.

With the 2021 NFL Draft just around the corner, analysts are taking a shot at who the Steelers will be selecting this year. Unlike in years past, it certainly seems like Pittsburgh could go in a handful of different directions with the 24th overall pick, as they have numerous big needs to fill for the upcoming season.

Based on the teams that Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have visited with this offseason and the Zoom meetings they have had with players, it certainly looks like defense could be on the table in the first round. While many fans don’t like to hear this, there’s a good chance that the best available player will be on the defensive side of the ball when the Steelers make their pick at 24. Here’s my prediction of who the five best available players will be when Pittsburgh is on the clock:

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Early in the new year, it was a debate as to who is the best cornerback prospect in the 2021 draft class, and many had Caleb Farley over Alabama’s Patrick Surtain. Farley opted out of the 2020 season, which likely makes him a longshot pick for the Steelers at 24. Still, the talent cannot be denied as Farley has elite physical tools at the cornerback position to go with impressive production (4 interceptions in 10 games in 2019).

Unfortunately, a returning back injury has some teams scared, and it is unknown whether or not this will be a recurring issue with Farley in the future. However, we saw a cornerback in 2019 that was bordering on an elite-level prospect. Had he played and performed well in the 2020 season, he would have been a lock top-15 pick this year.