With the Steelers having been on a bye week, I wanted to take some time to assess the current state of this roster and address what needs this team has in a mock draft. While early, I tried to line up the potential needs of this team with players that make sense in their respective rounds. For reference, I used PFN’s mock draft simulator to ensure picks are logical at this stage of the season.
This roster needs a lot of work. Both trenches still need top talent, and I’m not settled on the quarterback position yet, especially with a deep class on paper at the position. Other positions, such as receiver and cornerback, need to be retooled for the future. With that all said, here is an early Steelers mock draft for 2024.
While the offensive line can and should continue to be the focus of the team’s top draft capital. Unless the team lands a top 15 pick though, the elite linemen will likely be off the board. So, I pivoted my target and drafted defensive lineman Maason Smith out of LSU.
The Steelers like a specific type of defensive linemen as their ends. Taller and longer bodies are harder to come by though, but Smith fills that void. While not a stat monster at LSU, he is easily the best lineman who commands the most focus from opposing offenses.
He has a wide array of pass-rush moves already and plays with great strength. His run defense needs to be refined, but he has stretches of dominance. He will need some time to refine his ability, but he has all of the tools to become a dominant lineman and help replace some of the aging veterans on this team.
Heading into the second round, I had my eyes set on the center position. I was surprised by the play of Mason Cole a season ago, as he was one of the steadier players on the line a year ago despite previous struggles. While he shouldn’t be the long-term center, I figured he could be a fine starter there for a few more seasons.
Unfortunately, Cole has regressed this season and has quickly become a liability on the line. While the odds are decent that he is allowed to play another season here, the team needs to prioritize finding their future starter.
They land Georgia center Sedrick Van Pran in the second round. He is likely to be the top center in this class given his size and athleticism, but he lacks a lot of refinement as a blocker. Some will argue that the middle of the second round is too late, but centers tend to fall in the draft. Add in his rough edges and him falling this far isn’t unthinkable.
Van Pran would land in an ideal scenario though. He could sit behind Cole for the first year as he learns the ropes and refines his craft. If Cole continues to regress, you have someone waiting in the wings. If not, Cole sits for a year and develops behind Cole. It would be a win-win scenario and another building block for this line to work with.
I was nervous about the Steelers cornerback room ahead of this season. There was a lot of turnover in the room, and while fans were excited to see Patrick Peterson in a Steelers uniform, I was skeptical. Peterson is aging, played mostly in a zone defense, and was expected to suddenly move around a lot, something he hasn’t done.
Peterson has struggled in his new role, and while he isn’t a complete liability, he also hasn’t been dynamic either. On the other side of things, Levi Wallace has looked like a trainwreck. He is lacking the consistent plays he had a season ago. With his contract expiring this offseason, He is almost certainly gone.
Joey Porter figures to be a core starter in the future, and Cory Trice could also figure into the equation, and now the Steelers add yet another option in Max Melton. While the Rutgers defense isn’t elite, Melton has held his own in a talented Big 10.
His coverage skills are a highlight of his game, as he reads routes well and is aggressive in breaking up passes. His zone coverage is adequate as well. While Melton lacks the traits to be an elite player, he should become a viable starter down the road. He can be a core starter in the secondary and across from Melton.
As is well documented, I am not thrilled with Kenny Pickett so far as a quarterback. Despite being hyped as a pro-ready player, Pickett has struggled with the basics and lacks the upside of an elite quarterback. I am more than willing to explore the quarterback position in this draft.
No, Jayden Daniels will not be competing for a starting role anytime soon. While he has a great arm and natural athleticism, he struggles with his footwork and ability under pressure. He will need to develop, but his upside is high.
He can take up the quarterback-three role for this team while Pickett continues to show what he can do. If Daniels hits his ceiling, he could easily develop into the starter. If not, you risked a fourth-round pick on him. The quarterback draft class is deep, and the Steelers would be wise to add another name to the room in 2024.
While the Steelers have made some progress in rebuilding their offensive line, their work is far from over. Dan Moore will likely slot into the right tackle job a year from now as Broderick Jones becomes the left tackle, but depth and competition are needed.
Reuben Fatheree has the rare size the Steelers like in their tackles. He is a mauling run blocker who uses his size and strength to move people. He needs to improve as a pass protector, but he could slot in as a potential right tackle. At a minimum, he can be a reserve tackle for the future of this team.
Rounding out the draft I look for a pair of depth players that can hopefully develop into something more. Zakhari Franklin lacks the explosiveness to constantly win on the outside, but he has proven to be a safety valve for the Rebels offense. He excels with tough catches and plays over the middle.
While Allen Robinson has been a valuable veteran presence for this offense, I can’t see him sticking around at his current price tag. Franklin can be a replacement for him, serving as that physical slot receiver and an extra option if any of the starters can’t get open.
The Steelers lost stalwart safety Terrell Edmunds this past offseason, and while they haven’t gotten horrible play from their replacements, strong safety continues to be a bit of a problem for this team. A seventh-round pick won’t resolve all of that, but they land a good prospect here.
Lathan Ransom is a jack of all trades in the secondary. He can play deep or in the box (although he lacks the elite physicality to thrive there) and can slide down and cover tight ends in man defense. He would be a versatile backup for sure, and if the strong of late-round Ohio State safeties continue, Ransom could end up being a gem.
The Steelers have a lot of needs, and this mock draft continues to keep the focus in the trenches. Both the offensive line and defensive line get a boost while some promising backups are also added. Talent and depth both help make this roster stronger.