After another tough loss this season, it is hard to tell which way this season will shake out. Will the Steelers push for the playoffs? Or will they fall off a cliff from here? Time will be the guide to that answer, but that questionable future does pose the opportunity to look at the future. There could be some good options in this upcoming draft.
Quarterback could be the talk of the town if Kenny Pickett keeps playing the way he is no matter if Matt Canada is the offensive coordinator or not. There will be plenty of holes to fill this upcoming offseason and the Steelers will be active just like last year. This team has a long way to go before they have a chance to even rival some of the top teams in the AFC.
Steelers cement their young cornerback duo in round one of the draft
Pittsburgh stood still and waited for their pick and got a dynamic cornerback in Kool-Aid McKinstry. He has one of the coolest names in the draft and someone the city would love in a hurry. Bringing him onto this team would replace Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson as the opposite starter at outside cornerback. That would leave Joey Porter Jr. as his outside teammate.
The secondary has been an issue for this defense since Joe Haden and Steven Nelson left the team. It has been years since the club had a solid one-two punch at outside cornerback. McKinstry would bring that with Porter Having two cornerbacks that have ideal size to be productive on the outside to cover for this defense is something that would be valuable moving forward.
Day two has Pittsburgh adding to two areas of need this offseason
Another slip for the Steelers here as McKinstry fell to them in round one and now here with Sedrick Van Pran in round two. He is a plug-and-play center and that is a position that needs a potential replacement option. Not only is Mason Cole on an expiring deal after this season, but he has not played well for being the anchor of the offensive line.
Van Pran would be an upgrade over Cole and would provide stability at the center position. Pittsburgh has been missing that element ever since Maurkice Pouncey retired. Bringing in another Georgia Bulldog should help a little with the chemistry issues since Broderick Jones played there in college. Another upgrade to the offensive line to solidify that group.
Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee haven't been the best replacements for Terrell Edmunds right now. That could turn around as the season goes on, but it seems like safety could be another position of need come next offseason. Minkah Fitzpatrick has been doing his normal level of play, but he needs a quality partner next to him.
The Steelers take Tyler Nubin to round out day two of the draft here and add to their strong safety spot. He is a big player that roams the secondary for Minnesota. He has played in a bunch of different looks in college and is not afraid to get dirty at the point of attack. Nubin is a physical safety that should complement the style of football that this defense searches for.
A couple extra prospects in round four will compete forbig roles
Inside linebacker has started to stabilize more ever since the Steelers totally revamped the group this past offseason. Cole Holcomb has been up and down thus far, and the rest of the group continues to circle the wagons in hopes of finding a positive cure to their woes. One thing that has remained an issue is finding a linebacker who is a top guy for this defense.
Cedric Gray is the pick here as the Steelers believe that he can come in and be that top guy. His coverage ability could be an issue, but he has shown the ability to do everything else at a high level. He is a sure tackler and has been a consistent pass rusher when the defense at North Carolina gives him opportunities. Gray could remind many of Vince Williams.
Many will be shocked by the black and gold taking a receiver here, but they should this upcoming draft. Allen Robinson II will probably be let go due to his cap number and Diontae Johnson will be in need of a contract extension. Adding someone here who has the potential to play both on the outside and in the slot at the next level will only boost a team's depth.
Ladd McConkey gets the call here as the Steelers like his potential as a starting slot receiver in their offense. He has also shown that he has blazing speed on the outside and has experience as a returner too. Mike Tomlin and company will like that versatility that he brings and draft him with their second choice in round four of the 2024 NFL draft.
Day three of the Steelers draft ends with a couple additions in the trenches
Trying to load up the trenches here by adding some competition for the defensive line depth. Isaiahh Loudermilk has not been great, and the likes of Montravius Adams and Breiden Fehoko could use some competition for the next preseason. That is where a late round defensive lineman like Braden Fiske comes to mind for the Steelers.
They use their sixth-round selection on Fiske here as they hope that he can continue his progress into the NFL. He is an older prospect coming into the league after transferring from Western Michigan to Florida State this season. The remainder of this year will be his guide based on where he could go in the draft as he fits the perfect size for a defensive lineman on the Steelers defense.
Rounding out the draft here by adding some extra depth to the interior of the offensive line. Nate Herbig is there, but he is mostly a backup center now and can play guard if needed. Bringing in more competition at depth for the backup guard spot might be in Pittsburgh's best interest. They do that here by taking Matthew Jones out of Ohio State with their final pick.
This is good value as Jones has started at both guard spots during his time with the Buckeyes. That experience should help him catch onto the Steelers radar and push for a spot on the roster next year. He completes a draft that has some quality pieces from the first round of the draft to the final pick. There are many other issues this club must fix, but this mock draft did them some favors.