NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Mammoth OT is the popular pick to the Steelers in Round 1

Long before the NFL Draft this April, the Pittsburgh Steelers will do plenty of roster retooling with cuts, restructures, and free-agent signings. The choices they make over the next two months will give us a very clear picture of where Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan could be heading early in the 2024 NFL Draft.

For now, Pittsburgh's biggest needs are easy to see -- such has been the case since early in the 2023 season. We know that this team needs to find a competent cornerback and long-term option to pair with Joey Porter Jr. in the secondary. Likewise, finding an upgrade over Mason Cole at the center position is a must.

This week, however, we are seeing a 'heavy' offensive line theme (pun intended). NFL Draft experts have Pittsburgh narrowing in on one player in particular: a mammoth right tackle from one of the nation's best football programs. Here's where experts have this team going with the 20th overall pick in the latest Steelers mock draft roundup after the conclusion of Senior Bowl Week.

Steelers mock draft roundup: Amarius Mims is the theme for the Steelers this week

Matt Miller, ESPN: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Matt Miller kicks things off with the theme of 'Amarius Mims to the Steelers'. Listed at 6'7'' and 340 pounds with long arms, Mims is quite the specimen at right tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs. His biggest issue is that his foot quickness on his kick slide doesn't match some of the other top tackles in this class. However, his strength and length would be an added treat.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com also has the Steelers picking Amarius Mims in his first 2024 mock draft. While Mims might not feel like an ideal scheme fit in Arthur Smith's new offense (which typically requires offensive linemen who can get out in space and move laterally in a hurry in the wide zone), Mims would give Pittsburgh a lethal paring in the running game and would allow Broderick Jones -- Mims' former teammate at Georgia -- to move back to left tackle.

Luke Easterling, FanNation: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

JC Latham is another offensive tackle who is frequently mocked to the Steelers thanks to Pittsburgh's need at the position, where he's projected to go in the first round, and the fact that Mike Tomlin loves drafting from big schools. Latham isn't quite as physically imposing as Mims, but he's certainly more polished and he has hundreds of more snaps under his belt despite being a true junior in 2023 like Mims.

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Quinyon Mitchell to the Steelers is picking up steam following Senior Bowl Week. We know that Pittsburgh has a glaring need at cornerback, and Mitchell was arguably the single best player in Mobile this year. This would be a bit out of character, as the Steelers don't typically take players from non-Power 5 schools in the first round, but their new front office heads (Omar Khan and Andy Weidl) could break some of the old traditions and trends that former GM Kevin Colbert held to.

Oliver Hodgkinson, Pro Football Network: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Pro Football Network also has the Steelers drafting Amarius Mims. With a run on cornerbacks just before Pittsburgh's 20th overall selection in this mock, Mike Tomlin and his front office elect to go with offensive tackle help. Broderick Jones didn't earn a starting job right away as a rookie, and Mims isn't guaranteed to either -- especially considering that he has never played more than 385 snaps in any of his three college seasons at Georgia.

Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

The Draft Network rounds out the week of Amarius Mims being mocked to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Interestingly, TDN has Pittsburgh passing on JC Latham for Mims. Both tackles project best as right tackles in the NFL.