Steelers updated draft picks after Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson trades

The Pittsburgh Steelers made it clear that Diontae Johnson was not going to be part of their future plans. While many speculated that the team could keep Johnson and let him play out the final year of his contract if Pittsburgh didn't get a good enough trade offer, Omar Khan sent him packing to the Carolina Panthers.

As part of the deal, the Steelers received veteran cornerback Donte Jackson. They also swapped their seventh-round pick for the Panthers' sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Just days later, the Steelers shocked the nation when Kenny Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. A report from Gerry Dulac of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette stated that Pickett didn't handle the arrival of Russell Wilson well, and the front office wasn't having it. Like the Diontae trade, Pickett will fetch a pick-swap deal from the Eagles.

These trade caused a shake-up in Pittsburgh's draft capital ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Here's an updated look at every selection the Steelers own for this April's draft.

Steelers updated 2024 draft picks:

• 1st-round (pick 20)
• 2nd-round (pick 51)
• 3rd round (pick 84)
• 3rd round (pick 98, via PHI)
• 4th round (pick 119)
• 6th round (pick 178, via ARI)
• 6th round (pick 195)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have good draft capital to work with this year. Though they don't have an additional second-round pick as they did in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers have a pair of fourth-rounders as well as two sixth-round picks.

Interestingly, Pittsburgh is slated to make back-to-back picks early on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Pick 119 in the fourth round is their original selection, while pick 120 was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams when they traded offensive guard Kevin Dotson last year. With this deal, the Steelers send the Rams their 2024 fifth-round pick as part of the pick-swap trade.

As part of the Diontae Johnson trade, the Steelers gave the Panthers their seventh-round pick and received a sixth-rounder from Carolina. This sixth-round pick originally belonged to the Arizona Cardinals. Fortunately, this will be the second selection of the sixth round.

The decision to trade Kenny Pickett resulted in the Steelers swapping pick 120 overall in the fourth round for pick 98 -- Philadelphia's compensatory third-round pick.

Steelers have quality draft capital in 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a solid haul of draft capital to work with this April. Though seven total selections are typical, Omar Khan found a way to move up twice since last year -- swapping a fifth-round pick for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-rounder for a sixth-rounder. Then later turing Pickett and a fourth-rounder into a third-round pick.

Thanks to these trades, the Steelers have four selections inside the top 100 picks of the NFL Draft and all seven picks will come inside the top 195 selections. Considering there are 257 total picks in the 2024 draft, per Tankathon.com, this is a quality group of picks for Pittsburgh.

Last year, in Omar Khan's first draft as general manager, the Steelers made two trades during the draft -- one to move up for Broderick Jones and the other to trade back and recoup a fourth-round pick (which they turned into EDGE Nick Herbig).

With some interesting chips to work with, don't be surprised to see the Pittsburgh Steelers make a trade or two during the NFL Draft again this year.