With Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan down at the Reese’s Senior Bowl we decided it was time to update the team’s needs for the 2024 NFL draft.
The Steelers 2023 NFL draft was a home run with the top three guys poised for stardom in Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton and Broderick Jones. Khan’s first draft was a hit and we are hoping for a repeat performance in 2024.
Here are our rankings for the Steelers top draft needs.
1a - Cornerback
With Levi Wallace set to hit free agency and Patrick Peterson taking a step back, the Steelers must find a confident cornerback who can start opposite Joey Porter Jr.
1b - Center
The Steelers must upgrade over Mason Cole at center and this draft has some exceptional prospects. Cole is every bit a Steeler off the field but his play has been no help to a struggling offense.
2 - Offensive tackle
The Steelers nailed it with offensive tackle Broderick Jones as a replacement for Chuks Okorafor and would be well served to try and find the replacement for Dan Moore this time around.
3 - Safety
If the Steelers don’t move Patrick Peterson to safety full-time, they could stand to add a young safety to pair up with Minkah Fitzpatrick and allow Fitzpatrick to roam and make splash plays.
4 - Defensive tackle
When the run defense struggled last season it was right up the middle. The Steelers have a young star in Keeanu Benton but could stand to bring in a big body true nose tackle to eat up blockers. This is especially true with Montravius Adams headed to free agency.
5 - Wide receiver
If the Steelers are going to hold their top receivers accountable, they need to have a player or two behind them who can step up. Pittsburgh is likely to cut Allen Robinson loose and need a true slot receiver.
6 - Inside linebacker
Inside linebacker might not be a need at all if the Steelers re-sign Kwon Alexander and Cole Holecomb comes back healthy. But we include inside linebacker because we expect Pittsburgh to bolster this group given the age of the top players and all those injuries last season.
