NFL Draft Rumors: Steelers are reportedly trying to trade up, but for who?

Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, as usual, we have seen plenty of rumors, whispers and potential smoke surrounding all 32 teams. But, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the latest rumors should excite the fan base.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport just said live, on the air, that there were a few teams looking at moving up on Thursday night.

One of them happened to be the Steelers.

"The Steelers have made phone calls about potentially trading up as well. There's going to be a lot of action right up in the early part, mainly because there's going to be so many highly rated players -- offensive tackle, receiver, probably the second defensive player -- still on the board," Rapoport said.

Potential targets for the Steelers if they were to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft

If Pittsburgh wanted to guarantee themselves the best interior offensive lineman in the draft, they could move up a few spots and select Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson. It likely wouldn't cost the Steelers a whole lot to move up just a handful of spots, and locking down a unanimous All American like Powers-Johnson would fill a huge need.

The Steelers could also be looking to move up even higher in the draft, but if that was the case, it would more than likely be for a wide receiver. George Pickens is clearly WR1, but the team can't go into next season with Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins as the no. 2 and no. 3. Pittsburgh has to do something big at the position, whether it's via trading for a veteran or going up and making a move in the draft.

Let's say Washington's Rome Odunze falls to no. 9 or even no. 10. That's a no-brainer for Pittsburgh. Otherwise, the Steelers could sit at no. 20 and go for LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. But, Odunze is an elite talent and worthy of a top-10 pick.

Maybe the most likely scenario, though, is for Pittsburgh to move up for an offensive tackle like either Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga or Georgia's Amarius Mims. While they might be able to get Mims at no. 20, there's no shot at the Steelers getting Fuaga at that spot. Moving up could mean ensuring they get their hands on Fuaga and stabilize the tackle position.