Sources: Steelers Hosted CB Wiggins, Top Clemson Prospects, for Dinner Before Pro Day

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted several top Clemson 2024 NFL Draft prospects on a dinner before the Tigers pro day earlier this week, sources told Steelers Now.

The Steelers sent a huge contingent of coaches scouts and executives to Clemson, including general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, along with multiple scouts.

The Steelers generally send large contingents to blue blood schools, but one of the highlights of the pro day process for Tomlin is taking some of the top prospects out for a dinner the night before.

This year, Tomlin hosted four Clemson players for dinner the night before their pro day, a source told Steelers Now: cornerback Nate Wiggins, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., running back Will Shipley and center Will Putnam.

Wiggins, a 6-foot-1, 173 pound cornerback, is a potential first-round option for the Steelers, and in fact, NFL Mock Draft Database currently has him at the No. 20 player in the 2024 NFL Draft class. The Steelers pick at No. 20 in the first round.

Wiggins is slight compared to the Steelers’ usual preference for cornerbacks (Joey Porter Jr. is 6-foot-2, 194 pounds), but Wiggins is somewhat comparable to former Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton, who was 5-foot-11, 188 pounds when he was drafted back in 2017.

Wiggins made up for his lack of size with electrifying speed at the 2024 NFL Combine. He ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash, and also posted a solid 36-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump.

The Steelers locked up two of their three cornerback slots for the 2024 season, when they traded for Donte Jackson to play alongside Porter, but they still have one more to fill, with 2023 slot cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan both still free agents.

RELATED: NFL Draft Film Room: Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson Athletics

Trotter is a potential Day Two pick at linebacker. The son of former Philadelphia Eagles star Jeremiah Trotter, he did not run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine or Clemson’s Pro Day, citing a hamstring injury.

He did work out at the combine and did agility drills, posting middling numbers in the shuttle and the three-cone drill. Trotter is undersized for a linebacker at 6-foot, 228-pounds, and with the Steelers committing long-term to another smallish linebacker in Patrick Queen this week, his fit in Pittsburgh seems less likely than it was a week ago.

Trotter is currently projected to be drafted in third round, right about where the Steelers select at No. 84 overall.

Shipley is an interesting Steelers interest, as he is likely to be drafted before most have the team seriously considering a running back. A 1,000-yard rusher in 2022, Shipley’s stock took a downturn in 2023, when he averaged 5.0 yards per carry and scored only five touchdowns, rushing for 827 yards in 12 games.

The Steelers do have a need for a No. 3 running back after letting both Anthony McFarland and Godwin Igwebuike become free agents, and a player with some projectability would be a good thing, as the Steelers have upcoming free agent decisions to make with both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren after the 2025 season. Shipley is currently projected to be an early fourth-round pick.

Putnam is likely a seventh-round or UDFA center option. He has good size for a center at 6-foot-4, 301 pounds and did 28 bench-press reps at Clemson’s pro day. The Steelers are in strong need of a center, and while they are likely to address it earlier than with Putnam, they will likely make two moves at that position with an eye to improving depth.