3 dream picks for Steelers in each round of the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon, and the Steelers will have a chance to load up talent with quality draft capital this year. Last April was Omar Khan's first draft as general manager, and he has given fans every reason to be encouraged about what could come next.

Every football fan longs for their team to land the perfect draft. Pittsburgh's 2023 didn't feel far off from this as they were able to find talent all over with guys like Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig, and Cory Trice.

So what does a perfect draft for the Steelers look like in 2024? Not all of these players are guaranteed to be on the board when they make their selection, but here are three dream picks for Pittsburgh in each round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Steelers dream picks for each round of the NFL Draft

Steelers Round 1 dream picks: OT Taliese Fuaga, OT Troy Fautanu, OT Amarius Mims

I don't think there are any players who are going to knock my socks off if the Pittsburgh Steelers land them in the first round. Some of the best players available could come on the defensive side of the ball, but there are a few offensive linemen that would be the dream for Pittsburgh in Round 1.

Taliese Fuaga doesn't have the length the Steelers desire at offensive tackle, but he makes up for it with his raw power, fast feet, physical demeanor, and excellent tape. Meanwhile, Troy Fautanu is on the shorter side, but has five-position flexibility on the offensive line, and Amarius Mims has the potential to be the best right tackle from the 2024 draft class. These would all be big wins for Pittsburgh in Round 1.

Steelers Round 2 dream picks: C Jackson Powers-Johnson, WR Xavier Legette, DL Darius Robinson

Studies have shown that centers historically slipped in the NFL Draft and that one of the top three centers should fall outside of the top 50. This means that either Jackson Powers-Johnson or Zach Frazier could be available to the Steelers in Round 2. However, this strong center group could break this historical trend.

If that proves to be the case and all of the top centers are gone, players like South Carolina WR Xavier Legette and Missouri DL Darius Robinson could be the best players on the board when the Steelers are on the clock at pick 51 in the second round. Either of these players would be a dream pick in Round 2.

Steelers Round 3 dream picks: CB Mike Sainristil, LB Payton Wilson, WR Roman Wilson

Now we get into the part of the draft that comes with a lot of wishful thinking. We don't know exactly how things will play out in the first two rounds, but I would love to have one of Payton Wilson, Mike Saintristil, or Roman Wilson available to Pittsburgh in Round 3.

Wilson has a scary medical history that includes multiple ACL tears (much like Cory Trice last year), but he's the best linebacker in the class for my money and he would be an outstanding pick at this point in the draft if he falls for medicals.

Sainristil is likely a second-round pick when it's all said and done, but his age and lack of size could force him to slide a bit further than expected. Meanwhile, Roman Wilson could be an odd man out in a crowded wide receiver class. The Steelers have a pair of selections in Round 3, and any of these three prospects would be a dream late on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

Steelers Round 4 dream picks: C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OT Kiran Amegadjie, CB Andru Phillips

In the fourth round, I would love the Steelers to grab the best remaining players on the board at important positions. If Sedrick Van Pran-Granger continues to tumble, into Round 4, I would gladly snatch him up at this point. The same goes for talented Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie. He's the perfect developmental offensive tackle prospect.

I don't expect a player like Andru Phillips to be on the board past the third round, but his ability to play slot cornerback would fill a huge positional need for Pittsburgh. I would run to the podium to turn my card in for any of these players at this stage of the draft.

Steelers Round 6 dream picks: DT T'Vondre Sweat, WR Luke McCaffrey, QB Joe Milton

Day 3 of the NFL Draft is about taking fliers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a pair of sixth-round picks this year. Polarizing Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat could fall due to character issues and concerns about his weight. He was recently arrested and charged with a DWI, which could drop him several rounds and make him available at this stage of the draft. He could be worth a gamble.

Luke McCaffrey could go as early as the fourth round, but if wide receiver-needy teams already load up on the position sooner, he could slip until late on Day 3. McCaffrey would be an easy choice if he was still here -- even if the Steelers had already taken a receiver earlier in the draft.

I also wouldn't pass on the talent of Texas QB Joe Milton at this time. The Steelers need a developmental QB3, and he has unmatched physical traits. He's unlikely to work out, but he's worth taking a sixth-round flier on.