With NFL free agency just two weeks away, we decide to put together our first 2024 NFL mock draft here on Steelers Wire. This was more about who we think would be best for each team and less about predicting what each team will do on draft day so when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, we weren’t able to just hand-pick our favorite prospects for each round.
1 – Chicago Bears – WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
We just don’t know if any team is going to want to give up the draft picks to take on Justin Fields and his pending contract so we keep Fields and give him Marvin Harrison Jr. to throw to.
2 – Washington Commanders – QB Caleb Williams, USC
With a ceiling of Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams is too good for the Washington Commanders to pass up.
3 – New England Patriots – QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
The Patriots are moving into a whole new era after Bill Belichick and this means cutting ties with all their bad quarterbacks and starting over with Drake Maye.
4 – Arizona Cardinals – WR Malik Nabers, LSU
The Cardinals can’t afford to move on from Kyler Murray so let’s give him an elite pass catcher in Malik Nabers.
5 – Los Angeles Chargers – TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
We considered a wide receiver here but if they want to add a weapon for Justin Herbert, Brock Bowers is as good as it gets.
6 – New York Giants – OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Joe Alt is the best offensive tackle in the draft and maybe the best OT to come out of college football in five years.
7 – Tennessee Titans – OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Drafting an offensive tackle is the only option here and we love Taliese Fuaga even more than Olu Fashanu for what the Titans do on offense.
8 – Atlanta Falcons – QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
The Falcons catch a break when Jayden Daniels falls this far and they don’t hesitate to snatch him up to reboot the Atlanta offense.
9 – Chicago Bears – DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Cooper DeJean has the potential to be an All-Pro at cornerback or safety and is our favorite defensive player in the draft.
10 – New York Jets – OT Olu Fahsanu, Penn State
Olu Fashanu went back to school and didn’t play as well in 2023 as he did in 2022. He slides a little because of it but is a nice pick for the Jets.
11 – Minnesota Vikings – QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Kirk Cousins is headed out in free agency so the Vikings get his replacement with J.J. McCarthy.
12 – Denver Broncos – EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama
The Broncos need to add some punch on defense and we love Dallas Turner as more than just an edge rusher.
13 – Las Vegas Raiders – WR Rome Odunze, Washington
The Raiders need to rebuild their offense and Rome Odunze is a great centerpiece for the passing game.
14 – New Orleans Saints – OT JC Latham, Alabama
There isn’t enough talk about just how good JC Latham is and the impact he could have on the Saints offensive line.
15 – Indianapolis Colts – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Anthony Richardson is a special talent at quarterback and he can only get better with Brian Thomas to throw to.
16 – Seattle Seahawks – C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Jackson Powers-Johnson is an amazing center prospect and will be a centerpiece of the Seahawks offensive line.
17 – Jacksonville Jaguars – EDGE Jared Verse, FSU
The Jaguars have several spots they might need to fill once free agency happens but for now, an edge defender like Jared Verse is the most impactful player on the board.
18 – Cincinnati Bengals – DL Byron Murphy II, Texas
I considered an offensive tackle here but I love Byron Murphy’s potential and he’s a better value than the next offensive tackle on the board.
19 – Los Angeles Rams – CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Nate Wiggins is a special talent at cornerback who plays with a ton of confidence and experience.
20 – Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama
With Powers-Johnson off the board, the next best option is Terrion Arnold who can start from day one opposite Joey Porter Jr. and let Patrick Peterson move to safety.
21 – Miami Dolphins – OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The Dolphins offensive line was a mess last season so the rebuild starts with Amarius Mims to start at right tackle.
22 – Philadelphia Eagles – CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
The Eagles love aggressive, confident cornerbacks and Quinyon Mitchell is tough to match in both categories.
23 – Houston Texans – DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
24 – Dallas Cowboys – OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
I went back and forth between a cornerback and an offensive tackle here and finally settled on Jordan Morgan for his ability to come in and help the team early in his rookie season.
25 – Green Bay Packers – OL Troy Fautanu, Washington
The Packers need a couple of spots on the offensive line and Troy Fautanu should be able to play tackle or guard in the NFL.
26 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
There was a time with Laiatu Latu was considered a Top 10 pick so the Bucs might get a real bargain with him this late in the round.
27 – Arizona Cardinals – CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
For Arizona, we went with Ennis Rakestraw, a man specialist in coverage and an aggressive run defender.
28 – Buffalo Bills – DT Braden Fiske, FSU
Braden Fiske has a really strong Senior Bowl and just has the look of a tough, hard-nosed defender for a cold-weather team like the Bills.
29 – Detroit Lions – OL Graham Barton, Duke
Graham Barton has real value because he could line up at guard or tackle on the offensive line.
30 – Baltimore Ravens – RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas
This might seem like a reach but a healthy Jonathon Brooks is a special talent on par with a guy like Bijan Robinson and is well worth the pick.
31 – San Francisco 49ers – CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
The Niners might need some other spots by the time free agency comes and goes but for now we are happy with Kool-Aid McKinstry as a legitimate starter in the secondary.
32 – Kansas City Chiefs – OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
The emergence of Rashee Rice means we can go for an offensive tackle here in the first and Tyler Guyton is rising up draft boards.
Second Round
33 – Carolina Panthers – WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
34 – New England Patriots – WR Keon Coleman, FSU
35 – Arizona Cardinals – DL Kris Jenkins, Michigan
36 – Washington Commanders – EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington
37 – Los Angeles Rams – WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
38 – Tennessee Titans – WR Tex Walker, North Carolina
39 – New York Giants – CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
40 – Washington Commanders – CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
41 – Green Bay Packers – S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
42 – Minnesota Vikings – RB Bucky Irving, Oregon
43 – Atlanta Falcons – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
44 – Las Vegas Raiders – QB Michael Penix Jr. Washington
45 – New Orleans Saints – QB Bo Nix, Oregon
46 – Indianapolis Colts – OT Patrick Paul, Houston
47 – New York Giants – WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
48 – Jacksonville Jaguars – S Kamren Kinchens, Miami
49 – Cincinnati Bengals – OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
50 – Philadelphia Eagles – WR Jermiane Burton, Alabama
51 – Los Angeles Rams – EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama
52 – Pittsburgh Steelers – C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
53 – Miami Dolphins – G Christian Haynes, UConn
54 – Philadelphia Eagles – EDGE Darius Robinson, Missouri
55 – Cleveland Browns – LB Chop Robinson, Penn State
56 – Dallas Cowboys – CB Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
57 – Green Bay Packers – RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
58 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – RB Trey Benson, Florida State
59 – Houston Texans – LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
60 – Buffalo Bills – WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina
61 – Detroit Lions – EDGE Jona Elliss, Utah
62 – Baltimore Ravens – WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Baltimore
63 – Kansas City Chiefs – WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
