Five Day Three Steelers Targets in 2024 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers took the patient route, let the board fall to them and got solid value at all three of their selections on day two of the draft. Zach Frazier gives them a day one starter at the pivot, Roman Wilson should be able to contribute early on in the slot and Payton Wilson has some really intriguing traits to mold as a developmental backer. Currently, general manager Omar Khan have three picks at their disposal on day three of the draft. There’s several different directions that the franchise could go but here are some names to keep an eye on at some positions of need.

WR Tez Walker, UNC

Walker is a one-trick pony of sorts but he’s very good at what he does: stretch the field vertically with blazing straight-line speed. That acceleration allows him to run by people but he’s also a pretty natural tracker of the football and can soar in the air to win contested catch chances over helpless defensive backs. He’s never been asked to run the full route tree and he lacks polish in that regard. Even after drafting Roman Wilson in the third round, Pittsburgh could double dip similar to what they did in 2022 and take a receiver that fits Arthur Smith’s  body profile preference.

DT Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa

Boyd was arguably the most notable snub from the NFL Combine but there’s still plenty of things to like about his game that should get him drafted on day three. He’s got a solid first step off the ball, thick lower half which assists him in the run game and plays with the red-hot motor that the Steelers typically covet. Boyd flashed more as a pass rusher in 2023 and finished the season with a career high in pressures and QB hits according to PFF. His lack of length and athleticism likely caps him out as a rotational player but on day three, he’s worth taking a flier on.

DB Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech

Taylor-Demerson was another player who had a nice week at the East-West shrine browl after a productive career with the Red Raiders. What you love about his game is his versatility: he’s logged significant snaps at safety but also at slot cornerback. He’s a rangy, highly instinctive player who always seems to find himself around the football which explains his turnover production. His eyes can get him in trouble sometimes versus play action and his lack of size will be something that he’s always going to be fighting to overcome. But he’s got a bevy of experience and legitimately good tape with the capability of pushing for playing time on defense early in his career.

CB Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi State

Richardson has the type of tools that you dream of for the cornerback position, a verified 6-foot-2 with over 32-inch arms and ran a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He has a good feel for zone coverage, is an excellent tackler and willing run defender. His lack of ball production is a product of him not being a natural at finding the football in flight and will need to improve if he’s going to hit his ceiling. However, the Steelers have made a habit of throwing darts at big, long and fast cornerbacks lately and Richardson would be the ideal swing in this class.

CB Dequan Hardy, Penn State

Hardy is a pure slot corner with good straight-line speed and shows good burst when driving on throws underneath. Hardy’s special teams acumen makes him intriguing as well, with experience covering both kicks/punts and also flashed as a returner by taking two to the house last season. Hardy is feisty but undersized and relatively inconsistent in coverage which is why he’s still on the board. With that being said, he took steps forward last year and is worth a look as a developmental piece in a Steelers secondary that desperately needs help at the slot corner spot.