Steelers trade back with Bills in 4-round 2024 NFL mock draft

The Buffalo Bills' decision to trade Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans could cause a ripple effect in the 2024 NFL Draft. With newcomer Curtis Samuel as the only respectable starting option on Buffalo's roster, they could be looking to leap ahead in the first round of the NFL Draft to snag a wide receiver who projects as a WR1 for Josh Allen moving forward.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have wide receiver needs of their own. Since trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, they have done nothing more than add a pair of depth pieces at the position in Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins.

However, receiver is a position the Steelers seem to be eyeing on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Pittsburgh doesn't often get the opportunity to trade back, but with a plethora of needs to fill, swapping spots with the Bills to pick up extra draft capital seems logical. Here's my latest 4-round Steelers mock draft following the Stefon Diggs trade.

TRADE: The Steelers trade pick 20 to the Bills for pick 28

Before the Steelers can run their card to the podium, I have Omar Khan fielding offers for the 20th overall pick and executing a trade with the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh sends pick 20 and pick 98 to the Bills for pick 28 and pick 60. Last year, Khan was able to trade up in the draft. This time the Bills' desperation for a WR allows Pittsburgh to move in the first round and turn a compensatory third-round pick into a late second-round pick.

Steelers mock draft Round 1: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

With the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, following the trade with the Bills, I have the Pittsburgh Steelers taking Clemson cornerback, Nate Wiggins. After we learned of Wiggins' recent pre-draft visit with the Steelers, he now earns the trifecta when it comes to box-checking.

Wiggins was a Top 30 visit, a formal Combine visit, and a Pro Day visit with a dinner meeting. This currently puts him in rare company only with Amarius Mims. In this mock, Khan doesn't pass up the opportunity to move back and pick up extra draft capital. This team clearly likes Wiggins and he projects as a good fit with Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback long term.

Steelers mock draft Round 2: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Braden Fiske is a player whom the Steelers have expressed interest in since scoping him out at the Senior Bowl. Since then, they used a formal NFL Combine visit to meet with him and flew him to Pittsburgh for a Top 30 pre-draft visit.

Fiske doesn't scratch the offensive lineman itch that every Steelers fan is going to have at this point, but in this particular mock, the board didn't break their way and the top three centers are already off the board (along with a run of offensive tackles). Khan opts to take one of the highest players on his board at a sneaky position of need on the interior defensive line.

Steelers mock draft Round 2 (via BUF): Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

With the second-round pick acquired from the trade with the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers land their receiver --turning their card in for Florida's Ricky Pearsall. Though Pearsall didn't break out until late in his college career, he's coming off an impressive senior season with the Gators and possesses the athletic traits to develop into a quality WR2 in the NFL.

The Steelers desperately need a quality receiver to pair with George Pickens after trading away Diontae Johnson this offseason. Pearsall can do a little bit of everything. He was a Top 30 visit by Pittsburgh, so this makes a lot of sense at this point in the draft.

Steelers mock draft Round 3: Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, C, Georgia

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally nab their first offensive lineman with their original third-round pick (their compensatory third acquired in the Kenny Pickett trade was sent to the Bills in this mock trade scenario). Sedrick Van Pran-Granger isn't as high on the draft board as players like Graham Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Zach Frazier, but he's the one Pittsburgh has met with more than once during the pre-draft process.

Last year, the Steelers doubled up on Georgia players in the first three rounds of the draft with OT Broderick Jones and TE Darnell Washington. Mike Tomlin clearly loves this school, and Van Pran could be the target at center if they miss out on the top center talent early in the draft.

Steelers mock draft Round 4: Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh

We don't want to read too much into local visits as they don't count against the team's 30 pre-draft visits allowed. However, the talent lines up with the need at this point, as the Steelers haven't drafted an offensive tackle yet and they have lots of familiarity with the hometown kid.

Matt Goncalves has quality size at 6'6 1/4'' and 327 pounds, but his lack of elite length and average athletic traits could limit his upside at the next level. He won't be the long-term option to replace Dan Moore Jr. on the offensive line. The Steelers will have to find that player somewhere down the road.