The Pittsburgh Steelers' dire need for a number two wide receiver opposite of George Pickens is still apparent ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. While it remains a possibility that General Manager Omar Khan selects a pass-catcher in round one, the offensive line is arguably much more important for the organization at this point. Both the center and, specifically, right tackle positions are needs, especially with Dan Moore Jr. entering the final season of his rookie contract. The goal has to be to get Broderick Jones to his natural spot on the left side, so a right tackle being taken is a high possibility.
In Khan's first official draft as the head of the front office, he moved up three spots to take Jones with the 14th overall pick. He has been extremely aggressive since being promoted in May of 2022, and fans should gear up for multiple significant moves during draft weekend. The first of those could be jumping ahead of teams to take one of the better right tackles.
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic went through draft day scenarios for the franchise in a recently published article. He began by noting that anything is possible under Khan, given his unpredictability since 2022. While no one knows what the Steelers will do, the most likely draft day scenario, aside from staying put in round one, is probably moving up to get another bookend tackle.
"Out of all the scenarios, moving up in the first round to draft a right tackle has to be at the top," Kaboly wrote.
That's an interesting comment to take note of, especially because Kaboly has been around the team for nearly two decades. Despite a deep tackle class, Jones is only entering his second season and finding someone who can dominate on the right side will set up Pittsburgh for the next decade when it comes to their offensive tackle positions.
The hardest part about predicting a potential slide up the draft board on day one is figuring out which prospects the Steelers like enough to go up and get. Based on pre-draft top 30 visits, Taliese Fuaga, Troy Fautanu, Tyler Guyton and Amarius Mims all could be in play for Khan in the first round. Out of those four, Fuaga and Fautanu seem to be worth of a potential trade-up.
Another name to keep an eye on is JC Latham from the University of Alabama. History mostly says that a pre-draft top 30 will tip off which players the Steelers are eyeing up on day one, but if Latham begins to slip down the board, moving up to get him may be a little too tempting to pass up. Kaboly specifically noted right tackle due to the expectation of all top center prospects expected to be available at 20th overall.
Kaboly did, however, hint at the possibility of Khan deciding to trade up if one of their desired centers ends up falling down the draft board well into the second round. These guys would be Graham Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Zach Frazier.
"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."
Overall, no one should be surprised if the Steelers end up having a new right tackle and center on the roster following the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft. It's been a clear focus throughout the pre-draft process.
Steelers' Need For Wide Receiver Can't Be Overlooked
If Pittsburgh doesn't end up making a trade for a veteran, proven wide receiver before the draft, it remains a possibility that the organization selects the top guy available at the position when the 20th overall pick rolls around. The top three are expected to go within the top 10 selections, so the trade-up scenario becomes unlikely. For the perfect right tackle, however, moving up the board seems like it could absolutely be on the table.
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