The Pittsburgh Steelers had the best draft class out of the 2024 NFL Draft hauls, according to NFL.com analysts. They ranked all the classes, and Pittsburgh’s came out on top for their value at positions of need paired with the offseason that Omar Khan had put together overall.
“General manager Omar Khan has absolutely crushed this offseason, restocking the quarterback position with two quality options for both the short- and long-term, then unabashedly investing in their protectors in the draft. Pittsburgh had seven picks in the 2024 draft and spent three on offensive linemen, demonstrating a clear emphasis on the trenches (while also catering to my soft spot). Khan began by snagging a top tackle in Fautanu, a pick that probably wouldn’t be possible in drafts that didn’t include six selections of quarterbacks in the first 12 picks. Pittsburgh capitalized by taking Fautanu, adding him to a line that includes last year’s top pick,” analyst Nick Shook wrote.
Pro Football Focus lauded the haul, giving Pittsburgh an A+, while Mel Kiper largely backed that up with an A- grade. However, they were not the only ones to love the picks. Rene Bugner compiled a cumulative draft GPA from 20 different experts who graded the draft, and Pittsburgh earned the highest GPA from all 20 outlets. The lowest grade they received was a simple B, but most experts gave them an A grade, with multiple A-pluses sprinkled throughout there.
In other words, the Steelers draft class is universally heralded as elite and perhaps the NFL’s best for this cycle out of the gate. It’s not just the experts who loved the draft. Mike Sando of the Athletic polled some NFL executives, and Pittsburgh earned some of the highest marks and praise from around the league for their picks up and down the board.
“Fautanu was one of my favorite players in the entire draft,” an executive told Sando. “Personality, work ethic, skill set, versatility — he has it all. The second-round pick (Zach Frazier) fits their brand for toughness — four-time state wrestling champ. And then they got the best off-ball coverage linebacker in the draft if Payton Wilson can stay healthy.”
PFF categorized Zach Frazier and Roman Wilson as “elite” picks. Following Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, Roman Wilson, and Payton Wilson through first two days, which racked up huge value throughout those first three rounds, the Steelers continued to bolster the offensive line on Day 3 by selecting South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick, the third offensive lineman in their first five picks. Since 2022, McCormick has earned a 90.3 PFF grade, the best among all draft-eligible FBS guards. With their last two picks, the Steelers scooped up Iowa interior defensive lineman Logan Lee and Texas cornerback Ryan Watts.
More must-reads: