Steelers trade up for second straight year in latest mock draft

The Steelers traded up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and CBS Sports' Josh Edwards believes they could do it once again this year in his latest mock draft.

Pittsburgh currently owns the No. 20 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Edwards predicts it could strike a deal with the Seahawks for their No. 16 pick. With that selection, the Steelers will then draft Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga.

"Pittsburgh can ill afford to wait until its first pick to see if an offensive tackle is still available, especially with Cincinnati and Los Angeles ahead of Mike Tomlin's team," Edwards writes. "The Steelers move up to take Taliese Fuaga, who should be an impactful bookend opposite Broderick Jones for many years."

Pittsburgh followed a similar blueprint last year, jumping the tackle-needy New York Jets for Georgia's Broderick Jones. The Steelers traded their 2023 first- and fourth-round picks to move up the three spots. 

The team could follow suit once again to move up four spots and jump its tackle-needy division rival. Pittsburgh also has two fourth-round picks in this year's draft thanks to its trade with the Rams that sent guard Kevin Dotson to Los Angeles before the start of the season.

Fuaga could be worth a trade-up as he ranks as the third-best offensive tackle and No. 12 overall offensive tackle on Pro Football Focus' big board after not allowing a sack on 339 pass-blocking snaps in 2023.

The massive 6-foot-6, 334-pound bodyguard has primarily played right tackle throughout his collegiate career, which would allow Jones to move back to his natural position of left tackle and demote incumbent Dan Moore Jr., who allowed eight sacks in 2023, per PFF.

As for Seattle, Edwards predicts it will add to its defense, which allowed the third most total yards per game (371.4) in 2023, with Illinois defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton. 

If the Steelers want to avoid losing out on adding a premiere offensive tackle like Fuaga, they should see if the Seahawks would take a similar deal as the Patriots did a year ago and sure up their offensive line for many years to come.