NFL mock draft roundup: Steelers streak of drafting Georgia Bulldogs continues

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers will be watching the AFC Championship Game from the comfort of their own homes this weekend. Mike Tomlin's team exited the tournament early following their Wild Card loss to the Bills. Now they can only dream of a day when they will be in a position like the Chiefs and Ravens this year with a shot to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.

In the meantime, the offseason is starting early for all but four remaining teams still in the Super Bowl race. The Steelers are in the thick of their offensive coordinator search, while DC Teryl Austin is set to return on a two-year extension.

Once the coaching staff is in place, the focus will shift to free agency. But for many football fans, April can't get here fast enough, and we are eager to see what Pittsburgh does early in the 2024 NFL Draft. The latest Steelers mock draft roundup has a heavy Georgia Bulldog and offensive tackle theme as we enter Championship Weekend.

Steelers mock draft roundup: Pittsburgh targets OT and Georgia players

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Prominent NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently released his first mock draft of 2024. With the 20th overall pick, Kiper had the Pittsburgh Steelers going with Georgia cornerback, Kamari Lassiter. Pittsburgh desperately needs a cornerback to pair with Joey Porter Jr., and Lassiter could be a respectable counterpart who can lock down receivers on the opposite side. The former four-star recruit would be an instant upgrade over Patrick Peterson on the opposite side and would likely start from Day 1.

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

If draft analysts don't go with a cornerback, it's typically an offensive tackle that they are mocking to Pittsburgh. One name who has been frequently mocked to the Steelers is Georgia offensive tackle, Amarius Mims. Mims, a former five-star recruit, was the third-ranked OT in the country coming out of high school in 2021. At 6'7'' and 330 pounds, Mims has excellent athletic traits for a man his size, but will likely stick at right tackle in the NFL. This would allow former teammate, Broderick Jones, to kick back over and man the left tackle position for the Steelers.

Luke Easterling, Sports Illustrated: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Here's another Amarius Mims pick for the Steelers, and nobody should be surprised. Luke Easterling of Sports Illustrated has the mammoth OT heading to Pittsburgh. The fit just makes too much sense. Pittsburgh desperately needs another tackle to pair with Broderick Jones, so why not take one from a school you trust? It worked out last year, and it could work out again.

Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports also mocks an offensive tackle to the Steelers with their 20th overall pick in his most recent NFL mock draft. This time, however, it's JC Latham. Latham was the top OT recruit in the nation coming out of the 2021 high school class. At 6'6'' and 360 pounds, Latham has unmatched size and anchoring ability. This would make for the prototypical right tackle in the NFL.

Joe Broback, Pro Football Network: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

Once again, offensive tackle remains the theme this week in NFL mock drafts. Joe Broback of Pro Football Network has the Steelers selecting OT Kingsley Suamataia out of BYU. Suamataia is another five-star prospect at offensive tackle with excellent size and moldable traits to work with. This would be a bit of an unusual selection for a team that typically sticks to its roots in the first round, but the value could line up with the need here.