Steelers Podcasts & Video

Locked On: Should Steelers Look to Trade Back in Draft?

Published

1 month ago

April 2, 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers Jackson Powers-Johnson

In his first draft as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ general manager, Omar Khan traded up in the first round and back in the third round on draft day. In total, the Steelers had their hands on 10 different draft picks, and only one — the second-round pick used to select nose tackle Keeanu Benton — began and ended as Pittsburgh selections.

In this year’s draft, the Steelers have a significant need at center, where incumbent veteran Mason Cole has been released and has not been replaced. There are a handful of players in this draft class that protect to be starters from day one at the center position, but they don’t necessarily line up value-wise with where the Steelers pick.

That could lead Khan to again be a deal-maker, with the Steelers having trade options up or back in each of the first three rounds as they try to land the center of their future and still maximize value from the rest of the 2024 NFL Draft class.

Alan Saunders joined Chris Carter on the Locked On Podcast to discuss whether trading up or back in the first or another round of the 2024 NFL draft is a good idea, plus where the team has locked itself into drafting a center and more.