Mel Kiper Mocks Different Cornerback to Steelers in First Round

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has projected a new name for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the his latest mock 2024 NFL Draft.

Kiper has the Steelers picking Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins in the latest version of his 2024 mock draft, which dropped on Wednesday morning before the testing at the 2024 NFL Combine.

Wiggins has been connected to the Steelers, but not as much as other first-round cornerback options such as Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell.

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Wiggins is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound cornerback that is coming out in the draft process after just three seasons, and two a starter, with the Tigers. He finished his Clemson career with 34 games played. He had three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, three tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and 60 tackles.

Wiggins would fit alongside Joey Porter Jr., solidifying the Steelers’ cornerback position for the long-term future.

“I went corner in my Mock Draft 1.0, and I don’t see a reason to change, though the Steelers just cut starting center Mason Cole and will have to replace him,” Kiper wrote. “Wiggins could pair a formidable pairing with Joey Porter Jr., who came on in the second half of last season. Wiggins allowed just 4.2 yards per attempt as the nearest defender in coverage last season, taking a leap forward from 2022, when he allowed 6.1. At 6-2, 185 pounds, he has a great blend of size and speed.”

In his first go-around, Kiper had the Steelers selecting Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter. 

This time around, he had Omar Khan passing on Duke center Graham Barton (21), Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton (23), Georgia tackle Amarius Mims (24), and Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson (not taken in first round).