Trade Up for Offensive Tackle Seems Most Likely Scenario for Steelers

With the Pittsburgh Steelers having several prominent needs in the draft, it’s been speculated that a trade back could occur. However, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic envisions the Steelers the trading up for a blue chip offensive tackle, just like they did last year with Broderick Jones.

“This is the most likely scenario for the Steelers,” Kaboly wrote. “Last year, they moved from 20 to 17 and all it cost them was the 140th pick because they pinpointed Jones as within reasonable reach to pull the trigger. The Steelers could find themselves in a similar situation that might result in the same plan.

“It’s not a secret the Steelers are interested in a right tackle. They brought in 11 offensive linemen for pre-draft visits, with some of the top right tackles in the draft in Amarius Mims, Tyler Guyton, Troy Fautanu and Taliese Fuaga, as well as centers Jackson Powers-Johnson, Zach Frazier and Graham Barton.”

The Steelers haven’t bothered to hide their interest in Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims, bringing him into the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for a pre-draft visit, sending general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin and others to his pro day in Athens, Georgia, and holding a formal interview with him at the 2024 NFL Combine.

The Steelers have drafted three former Georgia Bulldogs in the last two drafts — wide receiver George Pickens, offensive tackle Broderick Jones and tight end Darnell Washington. Mims very well could be the next product out of Athens to come to the Steel City.

As Kaboly alluded to, the Steelers have expressed extensive interest in centers in the pre-draft process, but he thinks a trade up for a center is very unlikely.

“It would be highly unlikely for them to move up to grab one of their top three centers on the board as they would much prefer one falling to them at 20 or, best-case scenario, into the second round, where Khan could potentially move up to get a guy like Frazier or Powers-Johnson. Out of all the scenarios, moving up in the first round to draft a right tackle has to be at the top.”