Steelers Draft 2024: Bailey final mock draft

Steelers Draft 2024: Bailey final mock draft

Good lord I cannot wait to not hear the phrase “Mock draft” for the next year.

At this point in the offseason when it’s been nothing but mock draft this, mock draft that on social media for three months, it’s enough to make me want to put my head in the oven.

Anyway, this is my final Steelers mock draft of the 2024 draft season- let’s get into it.

Round 1, Pick 28 (projected trade with Bills): WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas

Sure, let’s get weird. Sincerely, I do think the best move for the Steelers is trading down and gaining more assets to address their needs in the first three rounds. Pittsburgh gets picks 28, 60, and 133 from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for picks 20, 98, and 195 and they take Mitchell to put alongside George Pickens.

Round 2, Pick 51: C Zach Frazier, West Virginia

Over the last week, the top centers have been slipping down boards. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. doesn’t have a center being taken until the middle of the second round. While that doesn’t necessarily mean it will 100 percent happen, he’s been very adamant that the people he speaks with within the league don’t see either Jackson Powers-Johnson nor Zach Frazier going in the first round. Should this be the case, the Steelers could have their cake and eat it too by taking Mitchell in the first and have Frazier sitting at 51 when they are on the clock.

Round 2, Pick 60 (from Bills): OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame

The Steelers had Fisher in for a visit, and he fills that need at right tackle once the Steelers move Broderick Jones to the left side. How that will go in camp is TBD, but if their plan is to move Broderick to his natural spot at left tackle, draft a right tackle to fill that whole and move Dan Moore to the bench.

Round 3, Pick 84: CB Caelen Carson, Wake Forest

Carson played all over the Wake Forest secondary during his time with the Demon Deacons, He can play outside and in the slot, which gives the Steelers some flexibility on what they could do with him and how they utilize him. Carson is also a very willing tackler and a good run defender from the outside. He was one of the few bright spots on a bad Wake Forest team, and would be a nice addition to a young Steelers defensive backfield.

Round 4, Pick 119: DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas

Sweat’s DWI may see him fall from his projected late second-round-mid third-round projection. And man, if he is there at 119, sprint to the podium. He’s basically a much more athletic Casey Hampton- the dude is a freak. He’ll only be a two-down guy, but the impact he’ll have as a run defender next to Keeanu Benton is making me blush just thinking of it.

Round 4, Pick 133 (From Bills): LB Marist Liufau, Notre Dame

The Steelers have little depth behind Elandon Roberts and Patrick Queen as it currently stands. Cole Holcomb’s return date is up in the air, and Myles Jack and Kwon Alexander are free agents. Mark Robinson is the only other guy at that spot on the roster. Liufau’s best attribute is his ability in coverage. In today’s NFL, the middle of the field is the most important part of the field, and you can never have too many guys who can take that away from offenses.

Round 6, Pick 178: RB Kimani Vidal, Troy

There is a world where the Steelers lose Najee Harris or Jaylen Warren over the next one-two years. Vidal was very productive at Troy, rushing for over 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023 on nearly six yards per carry. It wouldn’t hurt having him as the third back in the offense to potentially groom as a future second option on the depth chart.