The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season is in the books following their first-round exit in the playoffs. The team will now transition to the offseason where the pre-draft process ramps up as Pittsburgh looks to build up its roster in hopes of having a better opportunity to compete in the postseason next year.
While we still have the All-Star games, NFL Scouting Combine, and Pro Days prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s never too early to go through mock draft scenarios and project players whom the Steelers may be interested in given their current needs on the roster and the talent in this draft class.
ROUND 1 (#20 OVERALL) — TALIESE FUAGA/OT/OREGON STATE
The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off this draft scenario by targeting the trenches and pairing last year’s first round pick, OT Broderick Jones, with another talented tackle prospect to give them their hopeful bookend tackles for the next half decade. Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga is a massive human being, at 6-6, 334 pounds, and starred at right tackle for the Beavers, serving as a dominant run blocker who levels opposing defenders into the turf.
According to Pro Football Focus, Fauga has been one of the most underrated prospects in the country, having posted two straight seasons with an overall grade over 80.0. The Steelers must add more nasty to their offensive line in order to establish more of a presence in the running game. Fuaga can do just that as this team looks to finish what it started by revamping this offensive line.
ROUND 2 (#51 OVERALL)— T.J. TAMPA/CB/IOWA STATE
The Steelers need to add another long-term answer at cornerback opposite of Joey Porter Jr. with Levi Wallace being a pending free agent and Patrick Peterson starting to show his age. In the second round, they turn to Iowa State’s T.J. Tampa, who is built in a similar mold to Porter, standing 6-2 and weighing 200 pounds. Tampa picked off two passes and deflected seven others in 2023, using his superior length, size, and athleticism to blanket opposing receivers on the outside. Pairing him with Porter would give the Steelers two long, lanky corners to man the perimeter of the defense for the next several years as they look to improve their pass defense.
ROUND 3 (#84 OVERALL)— ZACH FRAZIER/C/WEST VIRGINIA
C Mason Cole regressed in 2023 and given that he is entering the final year of his contract, drafting his successor and a potential long-term starting option at center would be wise for Pittsburgh to consider early in the draft. Enter West Virginia’s Zach Frazier, who grew up 90 miles south of Pittsburgh and started 47 career games, including 38 at center. He is as battled-tested as they come coming out of college, and his background as a four-time high school state wrestling champion shows up in his play as a strong run blocker and capable pass protector. Frazier can come in and compete with Cole in training camp, either winning the job outright or eventually replacing Cole as the 2024 season wears on.
ROUND 4 (#119 OVERALL)— TY’RON HOPPER/LB/MISSOURI
The Steelers experienced major attrition at the inside linebacker position this season, seeing both Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander sustain season-ending injuries while Elandon Roberts also missed some time with various ailments. Alexander is a free agent this offseason, and Pittsburgh would be wise to inject some youth into a room with established veterans. Ty’Ron Hopper from Missouri fits the bill as a middle-round prospect who can come in and provide depth while working into a rotational role like Alexander had last season. A strong run defender who plays with great pursuit of the football, he also is capable in coverage, having the athleticism to make plays all over the field.
ROUND 4 (#120 OVERALL VIA RAMS)— JACOB COWING/WR/ARIZONA
WR Allen Robinson II is likely to be a cap casualty this offseason if he isn’t willing to take a substantial pay cut, making the need for a capable WR3 higher on Pittsburgh’s list of priorities. The Steelers turn to Arizona’s Jacob Cowing in this scenario, Cowing having played his first three seasons at UTEP before transferring over to the Wildcats. The 5-11, 175-pound pass catcher is undersized when it comes to his weight, but he has been a big-time producer the last several seasons with back-to-back 1,000-yards seasons in 2021 and 2022 while posting 848 yards on 90 receptions with 13 touchdowns in 2023. Cowing is a precise route runner with the speed and quickness after the catch to be a problem in the open field. Being a great fit in the slot at the next level, Cowing would fit in perfectly in Pittsburgh, complementing Diontae Johnson and George Pickens on the outside.
ROUND 6 (#196 OVERALL)— JOSH PROCTOR/S/OHIO STATE
The Steelers need to add more safety depth with the room looking thin behind Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, and Keanu Neal. Miles Killebrew is a good special teamer but should not be counted on to play extensive defensive snaps. Enter Josh Proctor. The sixth-year senior had a ton of playing experience with the Buckeyes, having played deep on the back end, in the slot, as well as in the box. He possesses good size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and decent athleticism, and does his best work with the ball in front of him. He could help provide depth at strong safety while also becoming a core special teamer, using that to earn a roster spot and get a hat on Sundays to eventually earn a role on defense.
ROUND 7 (#237 OVERALL)— JADEN CRUMEDY/DL/MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Steelers close out the draft by selecting Mississippi State’s Jaden Crumedy to add more depth to the interior of their defensive line. Crumedy is a fifth-year senior who has been contributing for the Bulldogs since 2019, providing a stout run defender in the middle while generating some pass rush. He reached a career high in sacks (2.5) in 2023, being more of a pocket pusher than nuanced pass rusher. The 6-5, 305-pounder has the size and length that Pittsburgh finds attractive in its defensive linemen and is a powerful man who flashes underrated athleticism on his tape. He can come in and sit behind the starters as he develops into a hopeful rotational piece at either nose tackle or as a base 3-4 defensive end.
