Steelers 4-round mock draft after trading for Justin Fields

Nobody would have guessed that Russell Wilson and Justin Fields would have both ended up on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster for the 2024 season. Before the dust had time to settle on the Wilson signing, Kenny Pickett forced the hand of the front office and was quickly traded to the Eagles.

That's when the Steelers couldn't help themselves but trade for a polarizing quarterback in Fields. Though the early reports suggest that Wilson will be the starter to begin the season, Fields is a decade younger and has all the tools this team could possibly ask for in a quarterback.

One thing the Justin Fields acquisition does is make it far less likely that Pittsburgh will consider a quarterback on the first two days of the draft. As the rush of free agency starts to slow down, several glaring roster holes still remain. Here's my latest four-round Steelers mock draft following the Justin Fields trade.

Steelers mock draft Round 1: Graham Barton, OL, Duke

If there's one early-round offensive lineman who is still getting overlooked, it's Duke's Graham Barton. The physical offensive lineman has been primarily a left tackle for the Blue Devils, but Barton's lack of length could force him to kick inside in the NFL.

Barton has quick feet and a nasty streak to his game, and some believe that he will make the transition to center in the NFL. While the Steelers may be hesitant to take an offensive lineman who needs a position change (much like Kendrick Green), Barton is a phenomenal prospect. We've also seen many success stories around the NFL of great college tackles who kick inside at the next level.

The Steelers clearly have a massive need for a center, and there isn't even a capable option on the team. Barton is simply a better player than West Virginia center Zach Frazier, and with the lack of representation at Jackson Powers-Johnson's Pro Day, this could be a sneaky pick for Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Steelers mock draft Round 2: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a pre-draft visit with Xavier Legette on March 21st, according to Ray Fittipaldo of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This is a player the team has already expressed interest in at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine (the Steelers used a formal Combine visit to meet with Legette in Indianapolis).

It's not hard to see why there is interest here. Legette fits the mold of what Arthur Smith is looking for at the wide receiver position -- a big, physical receiver who will bust his butt as a blocker and can win down the field. After four quiet seasons at South Carolina, Legette exploded for a monster performance in 2023.

The Steelers have a critical lack of depth at receiver outside of George Pickens, and Legette is projected to fall to their range in the second round. If he's on the board at pick 51, it feels like there's a good chance Omar Khan will pounce at the opportunity to land him.

Steelers mock draft Round 3: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan

There's one cornerback this year who would be a prototype slot CB for Pittsburgh, and his name is Mike Sainristil. The Michigan product has impressive physicality to come downhill and support the run while possessing impressive ball skills. At the NFL Combine, Sainristil even compared his game to former Steelers CB, Mike Hilton.

At 5'9 1/2'' and 182 pounds, Sainristil would not be a boundary cornerback for Pittsburgh, but a slot cornerback in today's NFL is a full-time job. Sainristil would see the field frequently as a rookie in nickel and dime packages. The Michigan standout is likely off the board by this point, but I can see Khan running his card to the podium for Mike Sainristil if he's available to the Steelers in the third round.

Steelers mock draft Round 3 (via PHI): McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M

Thanks to the Kenny Pickett trade, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to swap the 120th overall pick (formerly from the Rams) to move up to the 98th overall pick. With this selection, I have Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin finding their new nose tackle in McKinley Jackson.

Jackson is very different than a player like Keeanu Benton, whom the Steelers drafted on Day 2 last year. Jackson won't wow you with his quick feet or bend as a pass rusher, but he's a stout defensive tackle who specializes at stopping the run. The Steelers have a history of taking Texas A&M players in the middle of the draft, and McKinnley Jackson would fill a big need as the team's true nose tackle.

Steelers mock draft Round 4: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri

It will be a bit disappointing if the Steelers wait this long to address the offensive tackle position. However, if they miss out on the first wave of talent, they understand that Dan Moore Jr. is going to be their starter for the 2024 season anyway.

When they do dip their toes in the OT pool, Javon Foster is a strong candidate. At 6'5 1/2'' and 313 pounds with 34 5/8'' arms, Foster is a toolsy developmental tackle prospect who has a ton of left tackle experience in the SEC. He's an excellent zone blocker and would be an ideal fit in Arthur Smith's offense. Foster would begin his career as a backup, but he possesses the upside to develop into a starter down the line.