Most likely Steelers offenive tackle target by round of the NFL Draft

With the 2024 NFL Draft almost upon us, I want to break down some likely draft positions the Steelers are targeting and see just who makes sense in every given round that the team currently has a pick in. While there are a handful of likely positions that this team will target in the draft, there isn’t a concrete plan of what position will go in what round.

With the Steelers holding picks in the first, second, third, fourth, and sixth rounds of the draft, I want to see what players at certain positions of need make sense. This list takes a lot from my list of 100 prospects that make sense for the team as well as players that fit what this team looks for typically.

We are continuing this week with an underrated need that has a deep crop of rookie talent entering the league. Offensive tackle, on the surface, has a pair of starters in Dan Moore and Broderick Jones. That said, Moore isn’t a great starter and Jones was supposed to be the guy on the left side. A plug-and-play right tackle or a developmental option would make a lot of sense in such a robust tackle draft class.

Steelers first-round tackle target: Amarius Mims

It seems like a foregone conclusion that the Steelers will take either a tackle, cornerback, or center in the first round of this draft. All three should have plenty of names available at pick 20, and if we hone in on the tackle class you have to think that they really like JC Latham and Amarius Mims, as both have had Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan at their pro day as well as having come in for a pre-draft visit.

While I prefer Latham due to his higher floor because of his college experience, either he or Mims have the making of a dominant right tackle. Both have freaky size and great length, two things the Steelers look for in tackles. Of the two, I think Mims gets the slight nod. I also believe he has the better shot to be available.

Drafting him means that the team should prepare for Jones to kick back to the right side. That said, you would have to plan around the fact that there is no guarantee he can start as a rookie given his limited college experience. Long-term though, he and Jones would be a strong pair of tackles for this offense to depend on.

Steelers second-round tackle target: Patrick Paul

One of my favorite prospects on day two of the draft, if the Steelers miss out on one of the many first-round tackle options, I hope the team comes away with Patrick Paul. Like Mims, he has elite size and length, so he fits the bill of what this team wants in their tackles going forward.

There are some issues that are keeping Paul down in this elite class of tackles. His run blocking is hit or miss, and his size has been a detriment at times for Paul, as he plays way too tall. He also was mostly a left tackle in school, so there would be a learning curve here. More than likely, Moore is still your primary left tackle as Paul serves as the swing tackle.

Long-term though, Paul could become a quality tackle for whatever team drafts him. He needs to work on his technique still, and he has some proving to do as a right tackle, but this deep tackle class is pushing him down to a range that makes him feasible for this team in round two.

Steelers third-round tackle target: Blake Fisher

It seems like a rough contingency plan for the Steelers that if they don’t take a tackle in the first round of the draft, they will target Blake Fisher in round three. Like the other two names on this list, Fisher has the size this team wants and has a lot of experience at right tackle. He seems like your classic low-risk, low-reward prospect.

Despite his experience, Fisher lacks the top-end traits to be an elite tackle at the next level. He seems like a guy who can start sooner than later, but he will always be a guy you are considering trying to replace. Even in a deep tackle class, that is the price you pay for waiting for the third round. That said, on a cheap rookie deal, Fisher could solve the right tackle hole for this team.

Steelers fourth-round tackle target: Rodger Rosengarten

There are a handful of day-three tackles that make a lot of sense for the Steelers. Unlike years past, there is a wide variance for where this team could target their top needs. For tackle, taking one in the fourth round is an open admission that Moore is starting for another year, but it could position this team to have a starting tackle by 2024.

Rodger Rosengarten is such a target. He has a good deal of experience and is a great athlete as a tackle. His issues lie in his core strength and hand usage. A year in the NFL strength room should be a good start, and taking year one as a redshirt option will allow him to get ready to play. Long-term there are questions about his upside, but he could be a realistic option in 2025.

Steelers sixth-round tackle target: Caedan Wallace

In a normal draft, an option like Caedan Wallace would likely be an early day three option for a team. He has good size and a lot of experience at a good school. His technique is hit or miss, so there is room to grow, and he lacks elite traits that will limit him long-term.

He reminds me a lot of what Moore was coming out of school. He can develop into a starter, but his best path seems to be as a swing tackle given his weaknesses. If the Steelers wait this long to draft a tackle though, Wallace is a viable option in the sixth round.

The Steelers have shown a lot of interest in the top tackle in this draft class, but even if they miss out on some of the elite names, they have options all over this class to fill out the tackle room. These names make the most sense given the needs and current interests of the organization.