The Pittsburgh Steelers have been discussing trading back in the first round of the NFL draft a lot over the last several weeks. The NFL draft in 2024 is currently just two days away. This is an example of how a move back might affect the Steelers draft.
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The Steelers move from 20 to 27 in this scenario by trading back to the Cardinals for pick 71 and a late-round pick swap.
The Steelers acquire Grahm Barton, the core of their offensive line, after trading back from 20 and passing up some of the best tackles. Barton has played a lot of tackle in the NFL but is expected to play centre or guard.
#51: Florida’s Ricky Pearsall WR
With Dionte Johnson gone, the Steelers have a huge void at wide receiver. With Ricky Pearsall, the Florida receiver, Pittsburgh can easily cover this deficit. Pearsall has excellent hands and runs routes smoothly, so he should fit right in at the Steelers WR2.
#71: Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro DL
The Arizona Cardinals traded pick 71 to the Pittsburgh Steelers following their return. With Ruke Orhorhoro, they use this pick to bolster their formidable defensive line with some youth. As a defensive lineman with versatility, Ruke should benefit much from studying under Cam Heyward.
#98: Missouri’s Kris Abrams-Draine CB
The Steelers received cornerback Donte Jackson in exchange for cornerback Dionte Johnson. Pittsburgh now has two outside corners to start with, but not much depth. As the Steelers’ CB3, Abrams-Draine is a flexible cornerback who ought to be able to move around the defence.
#119: Alabama’s Jermaine Burton WR
The Pittsburgh Steelers still lack skill at wide receiver, despite selecting Ricky Pearsall in the first round and adding players like Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins. Burton gets selected by the Steelers at pick 119 in this instance, where he will be their WR3/4.
#178: Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs, LB
Pittsburgh bolsters the youth and depth of their linebacking core with this selection at pick 178. As a coverage linebacker, Jacobs offers an alternative system to what the Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebackers are currently using.
#186: Penn State’s Kalen King S
Pick 195 was exchanged for pick 186 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the trade back with Arizona. Kalen King is another defensive back that the Steelers added with pick 186. King, a cornerback at Penn State, might be a better fit to play safety in the National Football League.
