The Chicago Bears are officially on the clock as Roger Goodell, 13 of the top prospects and thousands of fans are gathered in Detroit, Michigan for the 2024 NFL Draft. Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin, Andy Weidl and the rest of the Steelers braintrust are stationed in their war room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in Pittsburgh.
In this file, we’ll break down the picks leading up to No. 20 that may impact the Steelers’ decision, as well as keeping track of who may be available heading into the second night of the draft.
1. Chicago Bears, QB Caleb Williams, USC
No surprises here. Williams became a Bear the day that Chicago clinched the first overall pick.
2. Washington Commanders, QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
Like Williams, this one was pretty set in stone for quite a bit. At one point, Drake Maye was viewed as QB2 but Washington liked Daniels’ skill set better.
3. New England Patriots, QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
The Patriots were linked to trading back but they stick at No. 3 and take Maye who just feels like a Patriots quarterback. First-year head coach Jerod Mayo gets his franchise guy to start his tenure in New England.
4. Arizona Cardinals, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio St.
The Cardinals opt to stay at No. 4 after an eventful first round a year ago and take Harrison on the anniversary of the Larry Fitzgerald pick.
5. Los Angeles Chargers, OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Many mock drafts put WR Malik Nabers here but Jim Harbaugh and co. take their franchise tackle instead.
6. New York Giants, WR Malik Nabers, LSU
Nabers goes one pick later to the Giants.
7. Tennessee Titans, OT JC Latham, Alabama
Latham is the second offensive tackle off of the board. The Titans may have panicked after the Chargers took Alt at No. 5.
8. Atlanta Falcons, QB Michael Penix, Washington
Even after signing Kirk Cousins, the Falcons take a quarterback inside of the Top-10.
9. Chicago Bears, WR Rome Odunze, Washington
The Bears pair Odunze with Keenan Allen and Caleb Williams. Steelers fans can rest now as they are not trading up here to take Odunze.
10. Minnesota Vikings (from NYJ), QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
The first trade-up of the draft goes to the Vikings as they come up to take their franchise quarterback.
11. New York Jets (from MIN), OT Olu Fashanu, Penn St.
The Jets take an offensive lineman to protect for Aaron Rodgers after sliding down one spot. Potential Steelers target off of the board.
12. Denver Broncos, QB Bo Nix, Oregon
Nix drew comparisons to Drew Brees and Sean Payton liked that enough to take him in the top half of the draft.
13. Las Vegas Raiders, TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
Bowers is basically a wide receiver in a tight ends body.
14. New Orleans Saints, OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon St.
Realistic and potential Steelers target off of the board.
15. Indianapolis Colts, EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
First defensive player off of the board.
16. Seattle Seahawks, DL Byron Murphy, Texas
After 14 straight offensive picks, two straight defensive guys go. The first pick of the Mike Macdonald era.
17. Minnesota Vikings (from JAX), EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
Vikings move up to replace Danielle Hunter.
18. Cincinnati Bengals, OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Bengals snag a potential Steelers target two picks before Pittsburgh’s pick.
19. Los Angeles Rams, EDGE Jared Verse, Florida St.
Rams take an edge rusher one pick before the Steelers select.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers, OL Troy Fautanu, Washington
Steelers take the versatile offensive tackle Troy Fautanu who projects as an NFL guard but can also play center. It will be interesting to see who kicks inside for the Steelers.
21. Miami Dolphins, EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn St.
Dolphins add a pash rusher.
22. Philadelphia Eagles, CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
The Eagles snag the first cornerback of the 2024 NFL Draft.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (from MIN), WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
After moving down from pick No. 17, the Jaguars take an explosive wide receiver and potential target of the Steelers before the selection of Fautanu.
24. Detroit Lions (from DAL), CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Arnold falls down the board to the point that the Lions had to jump up and take him. It looks like the Lions needed cornerback help after the release of Cam Sutton.
25. Green Bay Packers, OL Jordan Morgan, Arizona
The Packers get offensive line help for Jordan Love.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, OC Graham Barton, Duke
Buccaneers take the top-rated center in the draft. A potential day two target for the Steelers is off of the board.
27. Arizona Cardinals, EDGE Darius Robinson, Missouri
28. Kansas City Chiefs (from BUF), WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
The Chiefs move up and take the speedy Xavier Worthy. This is on the heels of the Rashee Rice arrest and possible suspension.
29. Dallas Cowboys (from DET), OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
A possible Steelers target is off of the board to the Cowboys.
30. Baltimore Ravens, CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
A player that the Steelers had in for a pre-draft visit, Wiggins brings blazing speed to the Ravens defense but is very light in weight.
31. San Francisco 49ers, WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida
Pearsall goes way earlier than expected. Potential Steelers target off of the board.
32. Carolina Panthers (from BUF through KC),
Carolina jumps up one spot to take the hometown kid Xavier Legette. Bills trade out of first round completely and watch two more wide receivers go ahead of their first pick of the draft.
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