Steelers fans were optimistic that Pittsburgh was set to turn things around and string together a successful season in 2024. That didn't happen... at least not by the standard of success most fans strive for. Though Mike Tomlin's team made the playoffs, they failed to earn a single playoff win—continuing an eight-year drought without so much as a postseason victory.
It doesn't help when you're without your first-round pick for nearly the entire season. Last April, the Steelers rushed to turn in their card for Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. With a need at the position, Fautanu checked the boxes with elite athletic traits, outstanding feet, and the hard-nosed football mentality teams covet.
Unfortunately, Fautanu suited up only for Week 1 this season before suffering a knee injury in practice that officially ended his rookie campaign. This setback puts the 24-year-old offensive tackle behind the expected learning curve, and he's got some catching up to do.
Recently, Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers conducted a 2024 NFL re-draft on the NFL Stock Exchange Podcast. After missing nearly his entire rookie season, Sikkema and Rogers had Pittsburgh going in a different direction in Round 1. With the 20th overall pick in the re-draft, they had the Steelers selecting Ladd McConkey.
Steelers land the WR they've been looking for in 2024 NFL re-draft
McConkey, a wide receiver product out of Georgia, was originally selected by the LA Chargers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, in a re-draft, he would go much higher. McConkey had a spectacular rookie season with the Chargers that included 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns.
McConkey chipped in an outstanding catch rate of 71.8 percent while managing 14.0 yards per reception and an eye-popping 10.3 yards per target. When throwing in his direction in 2024, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had an unbelievable passer rating of 123.0 on the season.
The Georgia product would be a perfect fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After Diontae Johnson forced his way out of Pittsburgh last offseason, the Steelers proved they didn't have a wide receiver who could create separation at will or one who could run great routes. McConkey not only does both of these things at a high level, but he is also a nightmare to contain after the catch.
For the Steelers, McConkey would immediately slide in as the starting wide receiver next to George Pickens. Thanks to his reliability as a route-runner and separator, he may even lead the team in receiving from Day 1.
This is purely a hypothetical situation, but if the Pittsburgh Steelers could do it over again, they would have a hard time passing on Ladd McConkey with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.