Pittsburgh Steelers
2024 Draft Analysis
2024 Draft Analysis
Harv Aronson, Sports Journalist
The 2024 NFL draft is in the books and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, across the board experts are grading their draft selections remarkably high, most with an A or above. For me, it’s simply a WOW. Last year’s draft class gave us two starters in Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr. as well as relief linebacker Nick Herbig.
Now comes seven more rookies and each comes with an impressive background as well as outstanding skill sets. With the addition of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Patrick Queen, and punter Cameron Johnston, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan already had improved the team two-fold over 2023.
But throw in Van Jefferson and another free agent in Cordarrelle Patterson, and if this draft class pans out, this team will absolutely make noise during the season and should finally get past the first round of the playoffs. Of course, as it is every year, most experts and analysts are downplaying how well the Steelers might do, but Steelers Nation knows how much this team has improved and that was before the draft.
Here is my short analysis of all seven picks and the five undrafted rookies signed to a contract.
• Round 1, 20th pick overall: Troy Fautanu (6’4”, 317), University of Washington. Offensive lineman.
Just check out the credentials on the Steelers very first pick…the 2023 Morris Trophy Award winner presented to the best offensive lineman in the PAC-12. Last season Fautanu also scored the fifth best pass block grade with a mark of 88.2 among FBS offensive tackles. I’ve watched film on each of these draft picks and Fautanu is an outstanding pass protecter with quick feet and great hands. He says upright and is surprisingly strong.
Fautanu grew up idolizing Troy Polamalu partly because they share the same first name. The rookie made the Steelers his favorite team and now he’s playing in Pittsburgh. Fautanu has not even played one snap and yet he’s already ahead of Dan Moore on the depth chart at left tackle and rightly so. Some are calling this a steal and Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are thrilled with their top rookie. Bolstering the offensive line did not stop with this first pick.
• Round 2, 51st pick overall: Zach Frazier (6’3”, 310), West Virginia University, Center.
Ray Mansfield, Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Maurkice Pouncey…a long line of great centers who wore a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. Now comes Zach Frazier and accomplished amateur wrestler who is not just gutsy but a brute. Mike Tomlin said he wants his offensive line to “roll people” this season and that desire is already well underway with Fautanu and Frazier expected to be day one starters alongside last season’s overall number one pick Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, and James Daniels.
Last season the offensive line was a weak link. This year expect big things from the offense as it all starts up front and with two draft picks, the o-line suddenly looks very different and much stronger and aggressive. Frazier has gone viral with a video of his unfortunate incident of breaking his leg but getting off the field under his own power because his team, West Virginia was out of timeouts. With that video Frazier instantly earned a reputation of being “tough.” That’s a trait that has always made the best Pittsburgh offensive lines special…toughness. Fraizer is a natural at that and there is already a buzz about him being the next great center.
• Round 3, 84th pick overall: Roman Wilson (6’0”, 192), Michigan University. Wide receiver.
We have arrived at one area of the team that makes me most nervous about 2024. I didn’t like the trade of Diontae Johnson who is an outstanding route runner and that left George Pickens as the only dangerous threat at receiver. Van Jefferson joined the team as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons but after that, the receiving corps for me just doesn’t seem that scary.
Could Roman Wilson change that? I have read that he just might have been the best receiver in the entire draft. Watching his tape, he reminded me of former Patriots wideout Wes Welker and Julian Edelman. Wilson gets open. He will be a nice complement to Pickens’ long game. He’s a great athlete with considerable size. He played a big part in the University of Michigan’s championship season last year. He will HAVE to be good in 2024 and is already ahead of Calvin Austin on the depth chart as a starter.
• Round 3, 98th pick overall: Payton Wilson (6’4”, 238), North Carolina State, Linebacker.
With a second pick in round three, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have drafted the steal of the entire draft. Wilson is a tall linebacker and last season won the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year award, was a First-Team Associated Press All-American, was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and First-Team all ACC. That’s an impressive array of hardware. But beyond that, experts are calling him the best athlete in the 2024 draft class.
When I watched film of Wilson, my first thought and impression was holy shit…teamed with TJ Watt, Patrick Queen, Alex Highsmith, and Elandon Roberts, while being backed up by Nick Herbig, and Cole Holcomb the Steelers in my opinion now have the scariest, most dangerous, and absolutely the fastest linebacking corps in all of the NFL. Wilson looks and plays like Watt and Herbig. Having three guys who play like that at linebacker is going to be a thrill to watch.They all have non-stop motors who like to chase down opponents and all can tackle. Roberts is a tackling machine and Queen is one of the league’s best free agent signings in 2024.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and his linebacker coaches must be licking their chops and already scheming on plays to throw at opponents this coming season with the linebackers. Opposing teams are going to have their hands full not just with the linebackers but the entire defense. The only question remaining is how to get Herbig, Holcomb, and now Wilson onto the field. It’s a beautiful dilemma to have for any defensive coordinator.
• Round 4, 119th pick overall: Mason McCormick (6’5”, 315), South Dakota State University, Offensive Lineman.
If there was a weak link in the seven draft picks of 2024, McCormick would have to be it. Still, he has generous size and the Steelers scout well, so they must have seen something they liked in McCormick. He won’t be starting this season or any season as long as Isaac Seumalo is on the team, but he should be a serviceable backup. Playing at a smaller university, McCormick was First-Team AP FCS All-American and First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection.
• Round 6, 178th pick overall: Logan Lee (6’5”, 281), Iowa University, Defensive Tackle.
Seeing Lee on the field, here we get another athletic d-lineman with a motor. With Cam Heyward inching closer to retirement, Lee could represent the future and should see some playing time this season given Teryl Austin’s predictable desire to preserve Heyward as much as possible. Lee has good height and is quick. He could be a dark horse here, perhaps another Aaron Smith in the making.
• Round 6, 195th pick overall: Ryan Watts (6/3”, 208), University of Texas, Cornerback.
Pittsburgh’s secondary was suspect in 2023 but with Joey Porter having a season under his belt and most likely to be even better in 2024 as well has hoping Minkah Fitzpatrick stay healthy, the Steelers make their final pick a cornerback and good things have been said about Watts. On film I observed him staying with receivers, a bit of a ball hawk and an excellent tackler. Damontae Kazee is coming back from an injury but when he was healthy, he was outstanding.
Former Dolphins defender DeShon Elliott joins the squad this year,so it remains to be seen how well he plays wearing Black and Gold. Currently Watts is behind Porter on the depth chart so he’ll start on special teams where he should do well.
Following the draft the Steelers added these undrafted rookie free agents:
• Beanie Bishop, CB, West Virginia
• Daijun Edwards, RB, Georgia
• John Rhys Plumlee, QB, Central Florida
• Julius Welschof, linebacker, Charlotte
• Jacoby Windmon, linebacker, Michigan State
While undrafted rookies rarely make the team or have a major impact that is not always true, just ask Hall of Famer Donnie Shell or monster linebacker James Harrison, Willie Parker, or Ramon Foster to name a few. Regardless, we thought last year’s draft class was an amazing one, but this class may just surpass 2023’s rookies. For me, all of the sudden this feels like Chuck Noll’s early years of drafting when he built a dynasty through the draft. Mike Tomlin and Omar Kahn are doing a fabulous job drafting and this year’s selections are getting superior grades from the experts.
Now it’s time to get the OTAs underway, training camp to begin and a season with Russell Wilson taking snaps with several rookies and second year players making and impact and getting the Steelers back to the big dance…the Super Bowl.
(video highlights of all draft picks are below)
Now comes seven more rookies and each comes with an impressive background as well as outstanding skill sets. With the addition of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Patrick Queen, and punter Cameron Johnston, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan already had improved the team two-fold over 2023.
But throw in Van Jefferson and another free agent in Cordarrelle Patterson, and if this draft class pans out, this team will absolutely make noise during the season and should finally get past the first round of the playoffs. Of course, as it is every year, most experts and analysts are downplaying how well the Steelers might do, but Steelers Nation knows how much this team has improved and that was before the draft.
Here is my short analysis of all seven picks and the five undrafted rookies signed to a contract.
• Round 1, 20th pick overall: Troy Fautanu (6’4”, 317), University of Washington. Offensive lineman.
Just check out the credentials on the Steelers very first pick…the 2023 Morris Trophy Award winner presented to the best offensive lineman in the PAC-12. Last season Fautanu also scored the fifth best pass block grade with a mark of 88.2 among FBS offensive tackles. I’ve watched film on each of these draft picks and Fautanu is an outstanding pass protecter with quick feet and great hands. He says upright and is surprisingly strong.
Fautanu grew up idolizing Troy Polamalu partly because they share the same first name. The rookie made the Steelers his favorite team and now he’s playing in Pittsburgh. Fautanu has not even played one snap and yet he’s already ahead of Dan Moore on the depth chart at left tackle and rightly so. Some are calling this a steal and Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are thrilled with their top rookie. Bolstering the offensive line did not stop with this first pick.
• Round 2, 51st pick overall: Zach Frazier (6’3”, 310), West Virginia University, Center.
Ray Mansfield, Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Maurkice Pouncey…a long line of great centers who wore a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. Now comes Zach Frazier and accomplished amateur wrestler who is not just gutsy but a brute. Mike Tomlin said he wants his offensive line to “roll people” this season and that desire is already well underway with Fautanu and Frazier expected to be day one starters alongside last season’s overall number one pick Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, and James Daniels.
Last season the offensive line was a weak link. This year expect big things from the offense as it all starts up front and with two draft picks, the o-line suddenly looks very different and much stronger and aggressive. Frazier has gone viral with a video of his unfortunate incident of breaking his leg but getting off the field under his own power because his team, West Virginia was out of timeouts. With that video Frazier instantly earned a reputation of being “tough.” That’s a trait that has always made the best Pittsburgh offensive lines special…toughness. Fraizer is a natural at that and there is already a buzz about him being the next great center.
• Round 3, 84th pick overall: Roman Wilson (6’0”, 192), Michigan University. Wide receiver.
We have arrived at one area of the team that makes me most nervous about 2024. I didn’t like the trade of Diontae Johnson who is an outstanding route runner and that left George Pickens as the only dangerous threat at receiver. Van Jefferson joined the team as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons but after that, the receiving corps for me just doesn’t seem that scary.
Could Roman Wilson change that? I have read that he just might have been the best receiver in the entire draft. Watching his tape, he reminded me of former Patriots wideout Wes Welker and Julian Edelman. Wilson gets open. He will be a nice complement to Pickens’ long game. He’s a great athlete with considerable size. He played a big part in the University of Michigan’s championship season last year. He will HAVE to be good in 2024 and is already ahead of Calvin Austin on the depth chart as a starter.
• Round 3, 98th pick overall: Payton Wilson (6’4”, 238), North Carolina State, Linebacker.
With a second pick in round three, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have drafted the steal of the entire draft. Wilson is a tall linebacker and last season won the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year award, was a First-Team Associated Press All-American, was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and First-Team all ACC. That’s an impressive array of hardware. But beyond that, experts are calling him the best athlete in the 2024 draft class.
When I watched film of Wilson, my first thought and impression was holy shit…teamed with TJ Watt, Patrick Queen, Alex Highsmith, and Elandon Roberts, while being backed up by Nick Herbig, and Cole Holcomb the Steelers in my opinion now have the scariest, most dangerous, and absolutely the fastest linebacking corps in all of the NFL. Wilson looks and plays like Watt and Herbig. Having three guys who play like that at linebacker is going to be a thrill to watch.They all have non-stop motors who like to chase down opponents and all can tackle. Roberts is a tackling machine and Queen is one of the league’s best free agent signings in 2024.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and his linebacker coaches must be licking their chops and already scheming on plays to throw at opponents this coming season with the linebackers. Opposing teams are going to have their hands full not just with the linebackers but the entire defense. The only question remaining is how to get Herbig, Holcomb, and now Wilson onto the field. It’s a beautiful dilemma to have for any defensive coordinator.
• Round 4, 119th pick overall: Mason McCormick (6’5”, 315), South Dakota State University, Offensive Lineman.
If there was a weak link in the seven draft picks of 2024, McCormick would have to be it. Still, he has generous size and the Steelers scout well, so they must have seen something they liked in McCormick. He won’t be starting this season or any season as long as Isaac Seumalo is on the team, but he should be a serviceable backup. Playing at a smaller university, McCormick was First-Team AP FCS All-American and First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection.
• Round 6, 178th pick overall: Logan Lee (6’5”, 281), Iowa University, Defensive Tackle.
Seeing Lee on the field, here we get another athletic d-lineman with a motor. With Cam Heyward inching closer to retirement, Lee could represent the future and should see some playing time this season given Teryl Austin’s predictable desire to preserve Heyward as much as possible. Lee has good height and is quick. He could be a dark horse here, perhaps another Aaron Smith in the making.
• Round 6, 195th pick overall: Ryan Watts (6/3”, 208), University of Texas, Cornerback.
Pittsburgh’s secondary was suspect in 2023 but with Joey Porter having a season under his belt and most likely to be even better in 2024 as well has hoping Minkah Fitzpatrick stay healthy, the Steelers make their final pick a cornerback and good things have been said about Watts. On film I observed him staying with receivers, a bit of a ball hawk and an excellent tackler. Damontae Kazee is coming back from an injury but when he was healthy, he was outstanding.
Former Dolphins defender DeShon Elliott joins the squad this year,so it remains to be seen how well he plays wearing Black and Gold. Currently Watts is behind Porter on the depth chart so he’ll start on special teams where he should do well.
Following the draft the Steelers added these undrafted rookie free agents:
• Beanie Bishop, CB, West Virginia
• Daijun Edwards, RB, Georgia
• John Rhys Plumlee, QB, Central Florida
• Julius Welschof, linebacker, Charlotte
• Jacoby Windmon, linebacker, Michigan State
While undrafted rookies rarely make the team or have a major impact that is not always true, just ask Hall of Famer Donnie Shell or monster linebacker James Harrison, Willie Parker, or Ramon Foster to name a few. Regardless, we thought last year’s draft class was an amazing one, but this class may just surpass 2023’s rookies. For me, all of the sudden this feels like Chuck Noll’s early years of drafting when he built a dynasty through the draft. Mike Tomlin and Omar Kahn are doing a fabulous job drafting and this year’s selections are getting superior grades from the experts.
Now it’s time to get the OTAs underway, training camp to begin and a season with Russell Wilson taking snaps with several rookies and second year players making and impact and getting the Steelers back to the big dance…the Super Bowl.
(video highlights of all draft picks are below)
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