We thought the Pittsburgh Steelers had done it again. In just the second NFL Draft with new front office heads Omar Khan and Andy Weidl, it looked like this team swung for the fences and was about to strike gold on another impressive draft class.
That's when injuries struck and threw everything through a loop.
Two of Pittsburgh's top three draft choices only saw the field for a single game before their rookie seasons were void, while a pair of late-round picks never suited up in 2024. Fortunately, two spectacular rookie performances helped carry an otherwise injury-plagued rookie class. Here are my grades for each Steelers 2024 draft pick and an overall grade for Pittsburgh's rookie class after Year 1.
Round 1: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
This seemed like an easy selection at the time. On Marcus Mosher's NFL Draft Expert Consensus Board, Troy Fautanu was the 10th overall player entering the 2024 NFL Draft. The Washington left tackle had remarkable foot quickness and mirroring ability in pass protection while showcasing tenacity and the ability to get to the second level as a run blocker with ease.
But there are reasons some teams flagged him for medical reasons. Fautanu dealt with a knee issue, and after playing in the Week 1 opener, the first-round pick suffered a serious knee injury in practice—effectively ending his rookie season.
Brian Thomas was higher on my draft board, and that would have been an easy selection. We aren't going to judge Fautanu too harshly; he's got his whole career ahead of him. But a redshirt year is the last thing you want from a 24-year-old rookie.
Round 2: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Just before the draft, there was talk that Zach Frazier could slide into the first round. While I wouldn't have been a fan of the Steelers spending the 20th overall pick on a center, landing Frazier in the second round was a steal on practically everyone's board.
It didn't take time for this pick to pay dividends. From early in his rookie season, Frazier showed technique, balance, and tenacity that could make him one of the best centers in the league. Pro Football Focus graded Frazier as a top-five NFL center during his rookie season, and it showed on film. The Steelers found their long-term starting center, and he's just getting started.
Round 3: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
The idea was perfect, and I fully expect this 'C' grade to change. But after logging a mere five snaps as a rookie, it's hard to give Roman Wilson a grade higher than this.
From the very first padded practice of Steelers training camp, Wilson suffered a high ankle sprain. When he finally saw the field, Wilson dealt with a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for the remainder of the season.
This was a true redshirt year for the rookie. Wilson has speed, quickness, and soft hands at the receiver position the Steelers desperately could have used, but we won't get a fair assessment of this selection until next season. The Michigan product was a steal on the consensus board, but injuries got in the way.
Round 3 (comp.): Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
It didn't take an NFL Draft expert to see how spectacular Payton Wilson was in college. The All-American linebacker possessed remarkable size, athletic traits, and playmaking ability. If not for a scary injury history (and the reported lack of an ACL in one knee) Wilson could have been a first-round pick.
He did nothing to prove otherwise. As a rookie, Wilson electrifying—even in a part-time role behind linebackers Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts. Wilson earned a top-20 PFF grade as a rookie while coming up with a spectacular one-handed interception deep down the field and a defensive touchdown.
With his do-it-all skill set, we're excited to see what Wilson could do in a full-time role. Considering the Steelers were able to land Wilson with the 98th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, this was a home run selection that deserves a perfect 'A+' grade after Year 1.
Round 4: Mason McCormick, OG, South Dakota State
I said at the time, this was the perfect selection every team should look for early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft—an athletic, small-school player with all the traits to emerge as an NFL starter. It didn't take long for Mason McCormick to earn the starting right guard role.
This was largely due to season-ending injuries to James Daniels and Nate Herbig. Still, McCormick flashed tremendous upside with his impressive strength and anchoring ability. As a technician, McCormick still has a long way to go. He wasn't nearly as consistent as Frazier on a play-to-play basis, but the potential is all there.
Round 6: Logan Lee, DL, Iowa
The Logan Lee selection in the 2024 draft was hard to make sense of. The Steelers look for tall players who can hold up on the interior defensive line as 3-4 base ends, but Lee lacked length and bulk for the position.
After dealing with some bumps and bruises, the Steelers shut Lee down for the season before even logging a snap. In his second season, Lee will compete for one of the final roster spots on the interior defensive line, but the Steelers didn't get their value's worth out of this selection in Year 1.
Round 6: Ryan Watts, S, Texas
Just like Troy Fautanu and Roman Wilson, it's impossible to judge Ryan Watts in Year 1 as his rookie season ended before it began. In the final live play of the NFL preseason, Watts suffered a scary neck injury.
Watts' future in the NFL is unclear after having surgery. We hope for the best and a speedy recovery. Before the injury, Watts was having an impressive preseason as a former cornerback at Texas who was looking to make the transition to safety in the NFL.
We are just one year in and four of Pittsburgh's seven draft picks combined to play just 60 snaps in 2024 because of injuries. There almost needs to be an asterisk next to this grade. Fortunately, there's more than enough reason to expect this 'B' grade to improve.
It already looks like the Steelers struck gold on Zach Frazier and Payton Wilson on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, while Mason McCormick could be the future right guard for Pittsburgh. In Year 2, Troy Fautanu is expected to be a full-time starting offensive tackle as Roman Wilson will play a large role in the receiving game.
Even with redshirt seasons from half of Pittsburgh's 2024 draft class, this could shape up to be a strong group and the early signs are encouraging.