The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed the offensive tackle position by selecting Troy Fautanu out of Washington at 20th overall on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s the first time that the Steelers drafted an offensive lineman in the first round in consecutive drafts in the 89-year history of the NFL Draft.
The Omar Khan and Andy Weidl regime have made one thing clear in Pittsburgh; they want to build up the trenches and dominate up front.
Center is the last piece that the Steelers need to fill to complete the full rebuilt, however, but Pro Football Focus doesn’t envision that happening in their Day 2 mock draft. With West Virginia center off the board, landing with the New York Giants at 47th overall, PFF has the Steelers selecting Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson at 51st overall.
“The Steelers find a replacement for Diontae Johnson. Wilson brings NFL-level speed but also NFL-level determination at the catch point and when blocking,” PFF wrote.
The Steelers have remained strongly connected to Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson throughout the scouting process. As Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Arthur Smith, and Teryl Austin trekked to Ann Arbor for Michigan pro day, they also reportedly met with Wilson before Michigan’s pro day. That’s just another string of interest from Wilson to Pittsburgh.
The first obvious sign of interest was when Wilson had himself an impressive week at Senior Bowl practice. He started off the season on a hot streak and seemed primed for a statistically dominant season, but as the Wolverines shifted towards more of a rushing attack, his numbers just naturally fell. But that has not discouraged the Steelers.
Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson was still on the board when the Steelers pick Wilson. JPJ ended up getting selected by the Green Bay Packers at 58th overall.
With their first of two picks in the third round, the Steelers addressed the interior defensive line position by selecting LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith.
“Smith is a physically gifted prospect, but he will need to develop. He has to speed up his play — both in recognition and movements — to be more than a rotational player with plus size,” PFF wrote.
PFF wrapped things with having Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart land with the Steelers at 98 overall.
‘Hart brings ideal size to the outside cornerback spot. There are some natural movement concerns that come with a bigger body, but when he anticipates, he can play at a reliable level as a rotational cornerback,” they wrote.
If PFF’s Day 2 mock ends up being true, it will express that the Steelers truly do have faith in Nate Herbig being the team’s starting center.