Welcome everyone. We are just ten days away from the biggest football event of the year (aside from the Super Bowl). You guessed it, it’s the 2024 NFL Draft. I have one more article coming next week to complete my draft content for the year, but this is the one I’m most excited about.
I did my first Steeler Mock two weeks ago, and I think it was okay. There are definitely some things I would change, but now there is a hidden element that we have never done here in TFTB; trades. That’s right, trades. It’s a cardinal sin for us to do them here, but I only accepted one of them.
The trade went like this;
The Steelers are set at pick 20. The phones are ringing off the hook. We pick up the phone, and guess who it is? The San Francisco 49ers. They want to come up to pick 20 and are willing to give us a haul. They would give us picks 31, 63 and 94. You might say that would never happen. Remember these clowns gave up three first round picks to take Trey Lance. Let that sink in.
They end up selecting Chop Robinson with the 20th pick. They definitely could have waited, but they wanted their guy. Just imagine Chop Robinson on one side and Nick Bosa on the other. Scary stuff right there. With that decision, we move back in the draft and accumulate a late second round pick and a late third round pick. Let’s go baby!
Round 1 – Pick 31
Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB/Alabama)
With us sliding down the board in the trade with San Francisco, a potential star also slides down the board; cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Kool-Aid’s slide can contribute to a number of things. It could be how the board fell, or maybe because of his injury. Regardless, the kid brings in elite talent to pair with Joey Porter Jr and Donte Jackson. He can cover, he can blitz, and his name is the best in the business.
Other Potential Selections;
Tyler Guyton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Ladd McConkey, Kingsley Suamataia, Zach Frazier
Round 2 – Pick 51
Xavier Legette (WR/South Carolina)
One of my favorite prospects in the entire NFL Draft falls to us at pick 51. Xavier Legette is an athletic freak of nature. Standing in at 6’3” and weighing 227 pounds, he is a spectacular talent to watch. He really exploded onto the scene last year with 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. Reminds me so much of DK Metcalf. I know 40 times are whatever, but the fact that he’s that size and ran. 4.39 still amazes me. He’d be a perfect addition to the Steelers organization.
Other Potential Selections;
Roman Wilson, Edgerrin Cooper, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Kamren Kinchens, Michael Hall Jr.
Round 2 – Pick 63
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (IOL/Georgia)
With the second round pick we acquired from the 49ers, the Steelers finally fix their problem at center by drafting the mammoth of man from Georgia; Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. The guy received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2023. Yes we want him on our team. It might be a little early to snag him, but with Jackson Powers-Johnson and Zach Frazier going in this round, the Steelers can’t afford to lose the last opportunity to fix the center position.
Other Potential Selections;
Cole Bishop, Roger Rosengarten, T’Vondre Sweat, Renardo Green, Junior Colson
Round 3 – Pick 84
Roger Rosengarten (OT/Washington)
In my mind, this is an absolute steal getting Rosengarten this late in the draft. This is kind of where he was initially supposed to go, but some recency bias has basically pushed him up into the 2nd round. You’re telling me we can get him halfway through the 3rd. Hell yeah. We have now officially fixed the offensive line. Put Rosengarten in at right tackle, move Broderick Jones to his natural position at left tackle, and finally take Dan Moore’s unproductive ass off the field.
Other Potential Selections;
Kiran Amegadjie, Malik Mustapha, Maason Smith, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Spencer Rattler
Round 3 – Pick 94
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (LB/Clemson)
The last time I went linebacker it was in the 2nd round of the draft with the 51st pick. I used that pick to take Edgerrin Cooper. I think the way this board played out was amazing. Now, late in the 3rd round I can select Jeremiah Trotter Jr. from Clemson with the late 3rd round pick from the 49ers. I think with the addition of Patrick Queen, our linebacker room is good enough. However, with all the injuries that happened last year you can never be too careful.
Other Potential Selections;
Spencer Rattler, Kalen King, Mike Sainristil, Jermaine Burton, Blake Fisher
Round 3 – Pick 98
Spencer Rattler (QB/South Carolina)
We acquired the 98th pick from Philadelphia when we traded away Kenny Pickett. How poetic would it be if we decided to take a quarterback with that pick. It’s not too far fetched if you think about it. True, we have Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but neither of them are under contract after this year. The best quarterback on the board would be Spencer Rattler. Yes, he ended up leaving Oklahoma as he deemed it a “toxic environment”, but ended up doing okay with 37 touchdowns to 20 interceptions in two years with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Learning from Wilson and Fields would be a great opportunity for him, and it could be one for us if we decide to not retain Wilson or Fields for the future. Plus we drafted his top weapon in Xavier Legette in the 2nd round. I mean, who says no to this?
Other Potential Selections;
Mike Sainristil, Jermaine Burton, Blake Fisher, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, DeWayne Carter
Round 4 – Pick 119
Mekhi Wingo (DT/LSU)
The last two main spots of intrigue for us in the draft are defensive tackle and safety. The best defensive tackle available was LSU’s Mekhi Wingo. His stock fell a little bit to a season ending injury he had in 2023. He had a total of 95 tackles, eight and a half sacks, and one interception in three years with LSU. I like him, but he’s a bit undersized, and the injury history is a real thing as it seems a lot of the defensive line for the Steelers is hurt. I’d like to bet high though, and I’ll say he’ll be a good addition when Cam finally hangs up the cleats.
Other Potential Selections;
Khyree Jackson, Cam Hart, Zak Zinter, Elijah Jones, Luke McCaffrey
Round 6 – Pick 178
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB/Purdue)
Yes, I know we have both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, but it never hurts to take a running back late in the draft. Tyrone Tracy Jr. has had some decent stats in his starts, but he just hasn’t reached a 1,000 yard rushing season. Still he’s valued to be gone by the 4th round so the fact that we got him in the 6th is a steal. Just sad to see how the sport is treating running backs these days man.
Other Potential Selections;
Eric All, Tommy Eichenberg, Josh Proctor, Kenny Logan Jr., Evan Williams
Round 6 – Pick 195
Patrick McMorris (S/California)
Again, this isn’t any of the safeties we were hoping to get, but at this point, we are just looking for some safety depth behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliot. Patrick McMorris out of California is an interesting choice at least. He has six interceptions in his collegiate career and a number of fumble forces to boot. He’d be an a good option in the depth chart as we continue to boost the secondary.
Other Potential Selections;
Tre Taylor, Marist Liufau, Eric Watts, Sataoa Laumea, Myles Harden
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