Steelers Target J.C. Latham Likely Out of Team’s Range

The Pittsburgh Steelers seem poised to try and land an offensive lineman in the NFL Draft this year, and it is becoming the likeliest option at 20th overall. However, which one ends up being is anyone’s best guess at this point. But many have mocked the team J.C Latham in the past, but it seems unlikely.

Listed at 365 pounds on Alabama’s website, he came in over 20 pounds lighter at the NFL Combine and looked nimbler than ever. And according to Adam Schefter, Latham has put together an impressive list of visits that includes the Bears, Titans, Cardinals, and Titans, signaling that Latham might be rising out of the team’s range.

Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham is visiting tonight and Wednesday with the New York Jets. It will be the fourth team in the top 10 pick that Latham has visited, along with the Cardinals, Titans and Bears.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 16, 2024

Latham started at right guard before moving to right tackle for Alabama in 2022. A two-year starter at that position, he would likely play right tackle in the NFL and move Broderick Jones back to left tackle, where he played in college. Jones played right tackle in 2023.

Despite his size, Latham is no lumberer, and he is seen as a well-rounded player that can be elite in both run and pass blocking. In 915 pass-rush snaps as a tackle at Alabama, he gave up just two sacks, per Pro Football Focus.

Latham is one of the Steelers’ tackle options in the first round. While Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame’s Joe Alt are expected to be gone well before Pittsburgh picks, four tackles could be available in the back half of this year’s first round: Latham, Mims, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, and Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton.

Dan Moore Jr., the Steelers’ incumbent starter at left tackle, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and Chuks Okorafor, who lost his right tackle job to Jones mid-season has been released, so it appears high time for the Steelers to make another long-term upgrade at tackle after trading up to draft Jones last year. But Latham might not be the option that will be there. And with more connections to interior offensive linemen, the team addressing center in the first round simply can not be ruled out.