On Tuesday night’s SCN podcast of The Scho Bro Show, we held a mock draft simulation where those in attendance as part of our live chat on YouTube, Facebook, or X got to chime in to help make the Steelers picks. The simulation was done through profootballnetwork.com and used their predictive rankings to select the other 31 NFL franchise’s picks while we chose those of the Steelers.

Before getting into the selections, we realize the chances of getting any, let alone all, of the selections correct is a very long shot. In last year‘s exercise where the Steelers made seven selections, we picked one player correctly, Joey Porter Jr., but not in the correct spot as he was selected at 32 rather than at 17. The player we selected at 32, Darnell Wright, actually went 10th overall. Of all the selections we made last year, all the players we selected in the first three rounds of the actual draft with the latest selection being at 86. The draft plays out in strange ways, so players who were available in certain positions in this simulation will likely be gone on draft night. This is what makes watching the draft so exciting and entertaining as you never know what is going to happen.

Additionally, remember that this was a simulation and that our options were based off of players who could have already been selected by other teams. In years past, some were quick to comment on the podcast listing out all the players we should have taken in the simulation. To nobody’s surprise, the first five players they listed had already been drafted before the Steelers had the opportunity to take that player where they suggested.

So here are the selections taken by an attempted consensus of SCN viewers in the live chat. Note this draft was not including any possible trade down, but we did entertain trade down offers in the first three rounds.

Round 1, Pick 29: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

Note: We accepted a trade to move down nine spots. Although the offer was presented to move back six spots and pick up an additional third-round pick (pick 92), we went with trading down nine spots and picked up an additional second-round pick (pick 61) from the Detroit Lions.

It took a long time for us to make this selection. First, the option of trading back was debated as the Steelers had possibilites at pick 20. The Steelers could have chosen Amarius Mims, Graham, Barton, Jackson Powers-Johnson, or Cooper DeJean. Because there was no obvious player who fell in their laps, we felt the Steelers would still have options trading back. And it worked out. Assuming we were likely taking a center going back that far, Graham Barton came off the board, but Jackson Powers-Johnson was still available. I was even ready to pull the trigger on Zach Frazier in that spot had the other centers been gone. But when Cooper DeJean was still available, the live chat overruled and the Steelers got the versatile corner/safety, and I was already unhappy with this draft.

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

My happiness changed with the Steelers next selection. In order to get a feel for the simulator, I ran about a dozen simulations earlier in the day and none of them had a viable center option in Round 2 except for Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, who I would prefer in Round 3, but he also never made it that far. Assuming we would be picking Van Pran-Granger, as soon as I saw Zach Frazier was shockingly available there was a little discussion as we drafted the Steelers center.

Round 2, Pick 61: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

After the small discussion for the Steelers second pick, there was significant discussion for their bonus second-round selection we picked up by trading back. One thing that was not being debated was the position as there were multiple wide receivers available. After considering both Malachi Corley and Ricky Pearsall, the greater consensus came to go with Xavier Legette.

Round 3, Pick 84: Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale

With the Steelers not addressing offensive tackle in the first two rounds, and me being someone who wants them to “go big or go home,” I wasn’t in favor of taking a tackle later in the draft. But there was one exception as Kiran Amegadjie out of Yale was available, I felt there was good value at this time. There was also a push in taking a defensive tackle in this spot, but ultimately offensive tackle ruled out.

Round 3, Pick 98: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

Finishing up Day 2 of the draft, there was more debate as both Maason Smith and T’Vondre Sweat we’re still available for the Steelers 14 picks later. I was more on the side of drafting Smith because of the character concerns of Sweat, but the sheer value in getting such a player in this spot won over the live chat.

Round 4, Pick 119: Kalen King, CB, Penn St.

There was plenty of debate over which cornerback who was available in this spot should be selected. I can’t remember how we decided, but ultimately we made the pick of Kaylen King to go alongside his former Penn State teammate Joey Porter Jr. and moved on.

Round 6, Pick 178: Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson

Although the Steelers had already selected a defensive tackle, Big Bro Scho made an excellent point that the Steelers would not be afraid to double dip at a position if great value could be had in Day 3. Based on the projections, Tyler Davis should have been long gone so we made the pick.

Round 6, Pick 195: Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame

There were a lot of possibilities for the Steelers with their last pick in the draft. Some wanted quarterback Sam Hartman just so there would be a Hartman on the Steelers. I also was looking at a sleeper offensive tackle, but he is probably someone who would be a UDFA. Ultimately, we decided to go with linebacker and hopefully someone with special teams ability as a player who could potentially be an upgrade over Mark Robinson. For that reason, Marist Liufau was the choice and the Steelers draft was complete.

So there are the eight selections from the live chat of The Scho Bro Show this past Tuesday. How do you think we did? How many of these draft picks could you see realistically landing with the Steelers? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

If you’d like to listen to the entire show to see what other options were available, or just to hear me butcher the pronunciation of players’ names, the podcast is available below: