There will be no end to the rumors as the 2024 NFL Draft draws near regarding what teams are up to and how they plan to strengthen their rosters for the ensuing season and beyond. This includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will select first overall in the first round of this year’s draft with the 20th overall choice.With free agency first, the Steelers’ summer has already been very exciting. Due to the Denver Broncos’ tremendous debt, their quarterback room saw a complete rebuild, starting with the signing of Russell Wilson to a cheap contract. Then, to everyone’s amazement, they acquired quarterback Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears. With the Steelers no longer needing to try to trade up in the draft or hope that a quarterback will fall to them, this decision should help satisfy one of the major needs for any club heading into the upcoming 2024 season.
Despite this, Pittsburgh still has a lot of needs that may be satisfied by their seven overall draft selections. On both sides of the ball, they’ll probably be examining a number of positions, including defensive back, offensive lineman, wide receiver, center, and offensive lineman. However, they must also exercise caution when choosing players, steering clear of those who might not embody the Steeler brand of football that head coach Mike Tomlin has created.
The Steelers should steer clear of these two guys in the 2024 NFL Draft:
The Steelers are probably going to wait to select a wide receiver in the first round, as is customary for the team in the past. That may indicate that they won’t be able to locate a suitable replacement for the recently-traded Diontae Johnson, who is now with the Carolina Panthers, until the second or even third round.
Keon Coleman of Florida State should be available with the Steelers’ No. 51 overall selection, at the very least. But they ought to look elsewhere for recipient assistance. Coleman, a big-bodied receiver who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds, can outmuscle opponents to make contested catches. But according to PFF, he lacks some mobility, which reduces the amount of routes he can run. It’s also possible that his inability to break free from defenders is his worst flaw.
Given his potential, Coleman probably won’t get past the second round; yet, the Steelers may need to seek elsewhere for a more experienced receiver to support Wilson and/or Fields in what should be an interesting season at the quarterback position.The future of the Steelers’ defensive line, particularly at defensive tackle, is something they need to start considering. Although Keeanu Benton proved to be a valuable second-round pick in the previous draft, the line is beginning to show signs of aging due to injuries sustained by players like 34-year-old Cameron Heyward and inconsistent play from Larry Ogunjobi.
Maason Smith of LSU, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 315 pounds, would typically seem like a good candidate to take that spot on the interior and add some much-needed youth. But there are valid concerns over the former Tiger.
First off, because of an ACL tear in 2022 and a shoulder ailment in 2021, he doesn’t have many reps. Second, he plays with a high pad level when defending the run, which lets offensive linemen win leverage battles, according to several scouts, including The Draft Network. In addition, he struggles to stave off double teams too frequently as an interior offensive lineman, which causes him to lose at the point of attack.
NFL teams are looking for a lot of attributes and potential in Smith, but they are not developed at all, probably because he hasn’t played enough snaps. The Steelers shouldn’t waste a draft on him since he is a risky selection.
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