Omar R. Khan Having Issues with Mike Tomlin and Threatens to Leave Steelers If Tomlin is Not Fired…… More
The Pittsburgh Steelers can sit back and see how the 2024 NFL draft evolves before they potentially make a move in the first round.
Pittsburgh is likely out of the quarterback market now that it has Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on the roster.
The offseason quarterback moves brought less urgency to Pittsburgh’s trading strategy within the draft.
Pittsburgh does not have to panic that it will miss out on all of the premier quarterback prospects and can worry about filling other needs.
The Steelers do not have to make any bombastic trades in the first round, but a move up a few spots to land a prospect they really want is not out of the question.
Trade Up to No. 13 to Land Premier Offensive Lineman
The top of the first round could play out in an ideal fashion for teams with offensive line needs.
The first three picks will likely be quarterbacks and Marvin Harrison Jr. should be a top-five selection as well.
Teams like the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos could shake up the top 10 with trades for whichever quarterback out of Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy does not go second or third.
The trickle-down effect of the quarterback rush could lead to someone like J.C. Latham being available around the No. 13 pick.
Pittsburgh should focus its first-round attention on an offensive lineman, and if Latham is there at No. 13, it could make sense to move up in a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Latham is the No. 3 offensive tackle in the draft class on the Bleacher Report NFL scouting department big board. He could partner Broderick Jones at offensive tackle for years if the Steelers value him enough to trade up.
Pittsburgh has an extra third-round pick that it can throw into a first-round pick swap to sweeten the deal with Vegas.
Trade: Pittsburgh trades No. 20 and No. 84 picks to Las Vegas for No. 13 pick.
Deal with Seattle to Take No. 16 Pick
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Las Vegas might not want to budge from No. 13 because it has a litany of needs to fill under first-year head coach Antonio Pierce.
The Seattle Seahawks could be persuaded more to trade back and collect a few picks because they do not have a second-round pick.
After No. 16, Seattle does not pick again until No. 81. It has two fourth-round picks, a sixth-rounder and one in the seventh round.
The Seahawks could be interested in one of Pittsburgh’s third-round picks to move back a few spots so that the Steelers could go after offensive line help.
Latham would be the target if he falls to No. 16, but if he is not there, a move up would allow the Steelers to pick from Amarius Mims, Troy Fatuana and Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Fatuana and Powers-Johnson are the top two interior offensive linemen on the B/R big board, while Mims is the fourth-rated tackle.
A move up for any of those players would allow the Steelers to reinforce their offensive line and prevent AFC playoff rivals Jacksonville and Cincinnati from taking a prospect they value.
Trade: Steelers send No. 20 and No. 84 pick to Seattle for No. 16 pick.
Trade Down to No. 22 in Deal with Philadelphia
The Steelers could be approached by the teams directly beneath them in need of secondary help.
The Philadelphia Eagles are known to be aggressive in the trade market and they have a handful of picks that could interest the Steelers.
Philadelphia has a clear defensive back need, but so does Green Bay at No. 25 and Arizona at No. 27.
The Eagles could jump ahead two spots to prevent the Packers or Cardinals from leapfrogging them at No. 22.
Pittsburgh’s cross-state foe also has the most intriguing set of draft picks that could come back its way.
The Steelers may have to work to pry one of Philadelphia’s second-round picks away from it, but if the Eagles want Cooper DeJean or Kool-Aid McKinstry enough, it could be worth the price to them.
Green Bay has two third-round picks it could offer, but the Steelers do not want to drop behind Dallas at No. 24 because of the Cowboys’ offensive line needs. Arizona has a second and three thirds to mix into a trade, but that would also drop Pittsburgh below the Cowboys.
Trade: Pittsburgh trades No. 20 pick to Philadelphia for No. 22 and No. 53 picks
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