We might only be halfway through the 2023 NFL season, but that is more than enough time to pinpoint the glaring holes on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Though it already looks like Omar Khan crushed the 2023 draft, some of his decisions in free agency this past offseason haven't panned out, and some of their stop-gap options will be gone early in 2024.
There are a few positions that have been killing the Steelers this year. Gaping holes on the offensive line and in the secondary are partially responsible for allowing Pittsburgh to take the next step toward a championship-caliber roster. Here's what I have Pittsburgh doing in my first seven-round 2024 Steelers mock draft.
Steelers mock draft round 1: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
So far, the Steelers should be thrilled with the performances that Broderick Jones has given them. Despite his small sample of play in college and the fact that Jones has primarily been a left tackle throughout his playing career, Pittsburgh slotted him at right tackle and he looked right at home.
Jones is looking like another successful pick by Omar Khan from last April, but even if he turns out to be an awesome offensive tackle, the Steelers still need a bookend on the other opposite side of the O-line. We have seen plenty enough of Chukwuma Okorafor and Dan Moore Jr. this season to know that neither player should be the future starter on a tackle.
Okorafor was apparently in the dog house with the coaching staff, and it's rumored that his remarks got him benched. Prior to this, the play was league-average at best. The Steelers need better in Okorafor's 6th NFL season. Meanwhile, Moore is a bit younger, but in year three, he looks just as bad as he did as a rookie and is grading out as one of the worst offensive tackles in the league.
This is where Amarius Mims comes in. Mims is a mammoth OT from the best football program in the nation at Georgia. At 6'7'' and 340 pounds, Mims could slot in immediately as the starting right tackle -- allowing Jones to kick back over to LT. It looks like the Steelers found success in their first-round tackle from Georgia last year, and Khan might be willing to go this route again with his top pick in 2024.