The NFL Draft is the most exciting event of the offseason for front offices and football fans. Soon, all 32 teams will poach some of the best college football players in the nation in hopes of improving their roster and finding the next star players.
But not everyone enjoys this time of year.
For NFL players barely hanging onto their starting jobs, the results of the NFL Draft could bury them on the depth chart and sabotage any shot of earning a big contract in the future. Here are five Steelers players who could lose their starting jobs during the 2024 NFL Draft.
1. Dan Moore Jr., OT
Just like he often does against talented pass rushers, Dan Moore could be holding on to his job for dear life during the draft. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a say in who Pittsburgh will look to take early in the draft.
The Steelers have had their eyes on the top offensive tackle prospect this year, and both Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have made it public knowledge that they want to move Broderick Jones back over to his more natural spot at left tackle.
In order to allow this to happen, Pittsburgh would need to take a right tackle early in the draft. A player like JC Latham or Amarius Mims in Round 1 would spell the end of Moore as a starter. Moore will be biting his nails on draft night, hoping Pittsburgh can go the first few rounds without drafting his replacement.
2. Nate Herbig, IOL
Nate Herbig's career as a starting center could be over before it officially begins. After releasing Mason Cole, ESPN slotted Herbig in as the team's starting center on the current depth chart. The Steelers would seem to agree, as they have mentioned his name as an option during the pre-draft process.
However, Herbig's presence certainly won't deter the Steelers from drafting a center early. If Pittsburgh can find a way to land one of the top three centers with their first two picks (Graham Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, or Zach Frazier), Herbig will go back to being a swing interior backup.
3. Donte Jackson, CB
Donte Jackson is a seasoned cornerback who has started 76 of 80 games entering his seventh NFL season. But despite being the player the Steelers received in the Diontae Johnson trade, that doesn't mean his job is automatically safe as the starting boundary cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr.
Jackson doesn't have the desired length the Steelers like at the position, and he has struggled to stay healthy over the years. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has been eyeing some of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. If they go with a cornerback early in the draft. Jackson could lose his role as the starting RCB and be forced to transition to the team's slot cornerback.
4. Van Jefferson, WR
Van Jefferson should not be a starting receiver at this stage of his NFL career. Unfortunately, he might be the best option this team currently has at receiver outside of George Pickens. Don't count on that being the case for long.
The Steelers have spent a great deal of resources during the pre-draft process to meet with early-round wide receiver prospects. Assuming Pittsburgh takes a wide receiver with one of their top two selections on Day 2, Jefferson will be back to a reserve role, and because he doesn't play special teams, he wouldn't be guaranteed to make the final roster.
5. Larry Ogunjobi, DL
Larry Ogunjobi is certainly getting paid like a starting defensive lineman, but the Steelers have a way to get out of his deal if a solution comes along. Pittsburgh has spent time with early-round interior defenders -- presumably to pair with Keeanu Benton when Cameron Heyward retires.
If the Steelers take a versatile defensive lineman early, Omar Khan restructure Ogunjobi's contract or even make him a post-June 1st cut after the 2024 NFL Draft. Either way, his starting role could be in jeopardy now that he will be 30 years old coming off a down season in 2023.