Troy Fautanu pick comes back to haunt Steelers in NFC Championship Game

It's hard to get too upset with the Pittsburgh Steelers' draft class.

Zach Frazier had an outstanding rookie season, Mason McCormick solidified a starting spot along the offensive line, and Payton Wilson showed Pro Bowl potential.

The Steelers also have high hopes for first-round pick Troy Fautanu, who only played in one game due to a season-ending injury he suffered in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. Fautanu still has star potential and is a player to watch in 2025.

However, the NFL Draft is a what-if game.

The Steelers may ultimately be proven right for selecting Fautanu, but they missed the chance to land a potential difference-maker in the secondary: cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

Many projected Mitchell to go in the top 15, but an early run on quarterbacks helped push him down to the 20s, where the Philadelphia Eagles gladly selected him at No. 22 overall. Like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh needed help at cornerback, a problem that has only heightened entering this offseason.

Quinyon Mitchell proves why Steelers should've selected him in 2024 NFL Draft

Cornerback is among the Steelers' biggest positions of need this offseason, with Donte Jackson hitting free agency. Cory Trice Jr. could compete for the starting job, but it wouldn't have been an issue had the Steelers prioritized cornerback last year.

Mitchell had a phenomenal rookie season for the Eagles, and he made a statement with a big-time performance in the NFC Championship Game. According to Pro Football Focus, Mitchell allowed just two receptions on five targets for 10 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, which was good for a passer rating of just 8.3.

His interception ended any hopes of a Washington Commanders comeback and punched the Eagles' ticket to the Super Bowl.

It was by no means a one-off performance. Mitchell has quickly become a shutdown corner in the Eagles' secondary, allowing a passer rating of just 69.7 in his coverage. He already has two postseason interceptions.

Mitchell is part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team and is a finalist for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

The Steelers had an excellent season but weren't quite good enough to make a deep playoff run. Adding Mitchell might not have been the difference between a championship and falling short, but he could've fixed a major concern in the secondary while giving the Steelers a star to build around on defense.