The 2024 NFL Draft is now in the books, and the Pittsburgh Steelers got quite the haul with a particular emphasis on addressing the offensive line. They entered the draft with pressing needs at offensive tackle, center, wide receiver, and cornerback, and they addressed three of those needs in a big way with their first three picks. Let’s go through the draft class, pick by pick, and take a look at the newest members of the team.
Round 1: Troy Fautanu/OT – Washington
Round 2: Zach Frazier/C – West Virginia
Round 3: Roman Wilson/WR – Michigan
Round 3: Payton Wilson/ILB – NC State
Round 4: Mason McCormick/OG – South Dakota State
Round 6: Logan Lee/DL – Iowa
Round 6: Ryan Watts/DB – Texas
Round 1, Pick 20: Washington OT Troy Fautanu
The Steelers stayed patient in the first round as they watched several of the top tackles come off the board ahead of their pick, including Georgia OT Amarius Mims two picks before them. That paid off in a big way with Fautanu falling into their lap at 20. He is an aggressive, experienced, and highly athletic offensive tackle who will perfectly fit the Steelers’ intended identity on offense. GM Omar Khan said he was the top option on their board regardless of position at No. 20, so they were very happy with making that selection there. Fautanu played mostly left tackle in college, so they will have to figure out which side Broderick Jones is playing on, but that is a good problem to have. This is the first time the Steelers have gone with offensive linemen with their first-round pick in back-to-back years in the common draft era.
Explore the pick of Troy Fautanu:
Troy Fautanu Scouting Report
Alex Kozora Video Breakdown On Fautanu
Josh Carney Film Room On Fautanu
Fautanu Is A ‘Steal’
Debate: What Side Will Fautanu Play On?
Tomlin: He’s A Tackle
Fautanu Grew Up A Steelers Fan
Khan: Fautanu The ‘Highest Rated Guy On Our Board’
Round 2, Pick 51: West Virginia C Zach Frazier
Center was inarguably the top need on the team entering the draft, but with the way the tackles were flying off the boards, it was wise to address that position in the first round. Graham Barton was drafted at the end of the first round, and Jackson Powers-Johnson was selected a little before Frazier. Many were calling for a trade up to ensure Frazier would be a Steeler, but Khan stayed put and landed him at No. 51. He is the most experienced center in the draft class and has the perfect mentality and work ethic to fit in with the city of Pittsburgh. He may be less physically gifted than some of the other top options, but his wrestling background, strength, and power in his hands will be an asset to the offensive line as the presumptive Week 1 starter.
Explore the pick of Zach Frazier:
Zach Frazier Scouting Report
Tomlin: Don’t Answer The Phone Unless It’s 412
Draft History With Back-To-Back OL
Arthur Smith: Couldn’t Be More Fired Up To Land Zach Frazier
Zach Frazier On His Work Ethic
Steelers Never Expected Zach Frazier To Slide
Round 3, Pick 84: Michigan WR Roman Wilson
Wide receiver was starting to get a little concerning as none of the potential draft-day trades happened for a veteran, and the position was starting to run thin of top talent by the third round. The Steelers once again stayed put, didn’t panic, and let Wilson fall to them at No. 84. Mike Tomlin has had his eyes on Wilson since the Senior Bowl, calling him one of the top receivers at the showcase. He had 4.39 speed, runs good routes, and is a willing and able blocker in the run game. There are questions as to whether he can play on the outside, or if he is more of a slot, but he should be the Steelers’ WR2 pretty early opposite George Pickens.
Explore the pick of Roman Wilson:
Roman Wilson Scouting Report
Roman Wilson On Blocking: ‘No Block, No Rock’
Simms: Steelers ‘Stole’ Wilson In Third Round
Analysts Call Wilson One Of Best Day-Two Picks
Sharp: Wilson Is The Anti-Diontae Johnson
Arthur Smith Praises Wilson’s Versatility
Round 3, Pick 98: NC State ILB Payton Wilson
Yet another Wilson to the Steelers roster. That makes three if you are keeping track. This is arguably the top linebacker in the draft if not for the medical concerns. He was a consensus first-team All-American in 2023 and won both the Bednarik and Butkus Awards. He was highly productive and backed up that production with an excellent performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. He has all the makings of an impact linebacker if he can stay healthy. That will be the big question.
Explore the pick of Payton Wilson:
Payton Wilson Scouting Report
Combine Interview With Wilson
Senior Bowl Interview With Wilson
NFL Scouts Weigh In On Payton Wilson: ‘He Has Literally Everything’
DC Teryl Austin: ‘A Guy We Had High On Our Board’
Rapoport: 22 Teams Believe Wilson Is A One-Contract Player
CBS Sports Analyst Believes Wilson Will Be Pro Bowler In Pittsburgh
Daniel Jeremiah: Wilson Is A ‘First-Round Player’
Round 4, Pick 119: South Dakota State OG Mason McCormick
Many expected a cornerback to be the next pick, but the class was picked pretty clean at this point in the draft. The Steelers continued to bolster their offensive line with guard depth and a potential future starter at the position in McCormick. He played an obscene number of snaps in college at left guard and comes with plenty of experience to compete right away for the top interior depth. He has some versatility as a center, too. With James Daniels entering the last year of his contract and Isaac Seumalo on the wrong side of 30 years old, this is a great addition to ensure the future of the guard position.
Explore the pick of Mason McCormick:
Mason McCormick Scouting Report
OL Guru Duke Manyweather Called McCormick A Top Sleeper
ESPN Analyst: McCormick Has ‘Starting NFL Chops’
McCormick Is ‘Ready To Play Anywhere’
Steelers Three New OL Are Already Familiar With Each Other
OL Coach Pat Meyer: Rookie OL Are Ass Kickers
Round 6, Pick 178: Iowa DL Logan Lee
Defensive line isn’t an immediate need, but the Steelers were wise to start stocking the shelves to prepare for life without Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. Keeanu Benton is a solid piece for the future to build around, but they need more help before it is too late. The defense is highly dependent on the big guys up front. Lee checks all the boxes in terms of measurables from Alex Kozora’s study on Steelers’ draft trends. The DL class was thin this year, and several of the names went a little higher than expected, but the Steelers were able to land a prospect who fits what they look for in the sixth round.
Explore the pick of Logan Lee:
Logan Lee Scouting Report
DL Coach Karl Dunbar: Lee Is A ‘Strong-Handed Big Man,’ Fits Steelers’ Mold
Shrine Bowl Interview With Lee
Evaluating The Value: Logan Lee
Logan Lee On Watching Mel Blount ‘Slam People On Their Head’
Logan Lee Excited To Learn From Cameron Heyward
Round 6, Pick 195: Texas DB Ryan Watts
It is less than ideal to address corner this late in the draft, but that is the way the board broke. The Steelers also have Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan as options they can bring back from last year’s squad. That will likely happen now with just a sixth-round pick invested at corner. Watts is a solid developmental prospect. He is another guy who fits into the “avatar corner” classification of lengthy and highly athletic corners, as the Steelers drafted last year with Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. Watts measured in at 6027, 208 pounds at the Combine, and ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, which is pretty solid for a guy his size. He is physical, and experienced, but will need to get better with his ball skills, including locating the ball in the air. He also checked all the boxes in Kozora’s DBs study.
Explore the pick of Ryan Watts:
Ryan Watts Scouting Report
Combine Interview With Watts
Tomlin On Watts: ‘He Plays With An Edge’
Evaluating The Value: Ryan Watts
Bucky Brooks Is A Big Fan Of ‘Show Pony’ Ryan Watts
Also, be sure to check out the updating UDFA tracker as the Steelers sign them in real time.
