NFL analyst releases full 7-round mock draft; Steelers pass on OL in Round 1

We’re just 10 days away from the 2024 NFL Draft kicking off. All offseason, Steelers brass has done their due diligence to find the next crop of college prospects who will don the black and yellow and contribute to the legacy of the Steelers.

With many unaddressed roster needs, general manager Omar Khan and company will have to decide how to navigate these waters. How soon will Pittsburgh seek to shore up the offensive line? Is the secondary going to see some bolstering? And for heaven’s sake, who is going to play center?

The latest mock draft from The 33rd Team’s Marcus Mosher outlines a rather clever path for the Steelers to take to solve as many of these outstanding concerns as possible.

Here’s a look at the full list of Steelers picks in Mosher’s final predictions for all seven rounds in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Steelers selections in Mosher’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft.

Round 1, pick 20: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

After a fantastic Pro Day workout, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought Cooper DeJean in for a top-30 visit. Pittsburgh is looking to find another cornerback after hitting on Joey Porter Jr. last year. DeJean can play in the slot, which is another significant need for Pittsburgh.

Round 2, pick 51: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

Round 3, pick 84: Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia

Round 3, pick 98: Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh

Round 4, pick 119: Kalen King, CB, Penn State

Round 6, pick 178: Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy

Round 6, pick 195: Kenny Gallop, S, Howard

Grading the mock draft: B-

Assuming the draft falls this way a week and a half from now, Steelers faithful can walk away reasonably happy.

As Mosher describes, starting the draft with a versatile weapon like DeJean adds a tremendous dimension of play-making to an already dangerous core with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and corner Joey Porter Jr.

Doubling back later to land Penn State’s Kalen King in the fourth rounds out the Steelers’ stable of defensive backs with some excellent depth as well.

This mock is not as friendly, however, to the vocal cohort that’s clamored for the Steelers to go with a center in the first round. Yes, it’s a glaringly obvious concern that’s warranted its own recent thinkpiece here at BTSC. Still, the third-round selection of Van Pran from Georgia is a nice stone that kills the proverbial two birds of need and value on Pittsburgh’s depth chart.

What drags this mock down a touch is how long fans would have to wait to see an offensive tackle’s name be called.

Pitt’s Matt Goncalves has been described by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein as a tweener prospect who’ll need some time to develop at the next level. The Steelers must find a player who can anchor the right side of the line and permanently cement 2023’s first-rounder Broderick Jones at left tackle. For as good as patience can be at times, Pittsburgh isn’t really afforded the luxury of landing a player who isn’t projected as a Day 1 starter on the o-line following this offseason’s release of right tackle Chukuwma Okorafor.

The pick that keeps this grade at a B- is the sort of “beauty in the eye of the beholder” embodied by South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette. Our Mike Nicastro wrote at length about Legette’s impressive physical nature and malleability as someone with a diverse skill set, but he doesn’t come without some risk as a fifth-year breakout.

Could the Steelers be pleased with taking a flier on raw talent? Indeed, we’ve seen a long string of receivers, from Emmanuel Sanders in 2010 to current WR1 George Pickens, take well to development in the building. Still, it’s a risky proposition with a corps without much depth to speak of with Diontae Johnson no longer on the roster.

How would you feel if this is how the 2024 NFL Draft shook out for the Pittsburgh Steelers? What pick was your favorite? Vote in the poll below!