Training camp is in full swing as the 2023 Steelers get ready for their upcoming campaign. It has been non-stop news coming out of Saint Vincent College and that will likely continue as the regular season inches closer. As the NFL season gets ready to begin, their college counterparts are also starting to prepare for their respective seasons.
It might seem too early to look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft, especially with neither football season kicking off yet. There are plenty of needs that will need to be filled this upcoming offseason and there are some college players that could make a lot of sense. Keep an eye on some of these names as they could be a pick in the Steelers upcoming draft.
Steelers try to fix their linebacker issues with their first round pick
Barrett Carter out of Clemson is the top pick in this mock draft for Pittsburgh as they try and solve their linebacker woes once and for all. Carter is a great athlete that can play at different positions on the field, much like Micah Parsons does for the Cowboys. That is not necessarily comparing Carter to Parsons, but they can be deployed similarly.
This linebacker can do it all as he is effective rushing the passer, plugging holes against the run, and is a monster in coverage. Fans would rejoice at getting a linebacker that can be in the middle of the defense that can cover for once. Carter still has a lot to show this season, but he should be in store for a monster year heading into the draft.
Day two of the draft adds a starting center and competition at safety
It is unknown if Mason Cole will be sticking around as the starting center for the Steelers past this year. He is under contract for this upcoming season and is currently scheduled to become a free agent following that. The black and gold could always bring him back, but they decide to address that void through the draft by taking Sedrick Van Pran.
This center from Georgia would have likely been a day two pick this past draft if he decided to come out of college. He could squeak into the first round by the time it is all said and done, but he lands in round two here. Van Pran should be the top center for this upcoming draft class and would be able to fill that starting role on day one.
Safety is a position that needs some investment after this season concludes. Keanu Neal is currently an unknown when it comes to what caliber starter he will portray. The Steelers need quality young guys at the position that can either challenge for the starting job on day one or develop into a starter in year two. Having Neal and Damontae Kazee would take pressure off an incoming rookie.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is not going anywhere, but the loss of Terrell Edmunds could affect the Steelers defense more than many expect. Adding someone like Calen Bullock would bring a new face to the safety room and challenge for different roles immediately. He would need to fill out his frame more at the next level, but his upside is there.
Depth spots get filled in the middle rounds of the draft for Pittsburgh
Blake Fisher is the fourth-round selection here in this mock draft as his size is unteachable. Many scouts will like what he can do for a big guy and might even envision him as a guard at the next level. With Kevin Dotson's future currently in question on the Steelers, adding some depth in the middle of the offensive line is a good idea.
Another question mark is what the future of Chuks Okorafor might be, especially if Broderick Jones starts at left tackle and Dan Moore Jr. starts on the right side. That could make Okorafor and his cap hit on the way out. That would make Fisher the immediate swing tackle on this team to start and he could potentially swing inside to guard if he cannot handle the tackle spot.
Pittsburgh will try their best to find a solution at their slot cornerback role throughout this upcoming season. It is possible that there are no quality options on this team, but there could be an answer when the draft rolls around. Fentrell Cypress II gets the pick here as he could fit the mold of a slot corner on this defense.
One of the best traits about this corner is his ability to blitz off the edge in certain situations. He might not be Mike Hilton, but he could come into training camp next year and show some skills that might impress the coaches. Cypress is not a finished product and has a lot of things that need fine-tuned, but he could be an interesting option in the slot.
Steelers round out their 2024 draft class with an NFL bloodline quarterback
The black and gold try and figure out where they would like to add competition next, and they draft a defensive lineman. They have all their starting spots filled for the foreseeable future, but they could use some competition for their depth players. Braden Fiske fits the bill with what the Steelers normally look for in their defensive lineman coming out of college.
He is coming over to Florida State as a transfer after playing his first four years of college football at Western Michigan. Fiske is a sleeper this year and Florida State has a lot of talent on their roster. He could see a boost in his numbers for one of the top programs this season. He has statistically gotten better each year and could increase his draft stock with a year like last season.
It seems unlikely that Shedeur Sanders will last this long in the draft with all the hype behind his name. Most know that he is the son of Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, and they are both now at Colorado. It is yet to be seen what kind of immediate effect that it could have on that program, but things don't seem positive right now.
Sanders did show some quality snaps during his time at Jackson State but that was also against some lesser talent in some respects. Scouts will be able to see what real ability Sanders this upcoming season has as he faces a tough upcoming schedule. The Steelers love NFL bloodlines and it would be hard for them to pass up on Sanders this late in the draft.