The Pittsburgh Steelers are rolling through the 2024 offseason. With free agency greatly affecting roster construction, it will be followed by the NFL draft in April. For the Steelers, the events since the beginning of the league year have changed their draft needs multiple times. With player pro days rolling on, team’s big boards will continue to take shape before the draft.

When talking about mock drafts or NFL free agency, one first has to first identify the team’s main needs for the offseason. Before any gains or losses in free agency, there are some who wanted to see the Steelers go with either offensive line or defensive line with their first-round pick. Others feel inside linebacker or cornerback could be on top of the list. In the midst of free agency, other positions such as wide receiver or even quarterback have been discussed. With plenty of chances for the Steelers to shape their roster prior to April, their goal is usually to get into position to draft the best player available rather than target a specific position. When it comes to what position the team will select with their first pick, it is certainly up for debate.

In the latest multi-round mock drafts by bleachernation.com (in order to find new players to cover, it sometimes takes looking at some lesser-profile mocks), they have the Steelers addressing the cornerback position before anything else. The Steelers still have questions at the position outside of Joey Porter Jr. Since the Steelers could go in any number of directions with their first selection, it is important to look at all the possibilities presented by various mock draft outlets.

Check out the Steelers 20th pick:

20. Pittsburgh Steelers | Quinyon Mitchell | CB | Toledo | JR |

Even as the draft process rolls on, there may be some players most fans are not familiar with. If this is the case, here is a breakdown of Mitchell according to thedraftnetwork.com:

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Size:

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 195 pounds
• Arm Length: 31”
• Hand Size: 9 1/4″

Accomplishments:

• All-MAC First-Team Defense (2023, 2022)

Strengths:

• Coverage instincts
• Outstanding ball production
• Reactive athlete
• Explosive downhill trigger

Concerns:

• Recovery vertical speed
• Overaggressiveness 
• Late/delayed backpedal transitions

Film Analysis: 

Quinyon Mitchell plays a good amount of off-man and zone coverage. His route-recognition ability is excellent. Mitchell does a nice job reading routes from his landmarks and squatting before driving downhill. He uses a side-saddle or bail technique to keep everything in front of him and prevent the deep ball. 

Mitchell has tremendous ball skills and production over the last two seasons. He battles at the catch point with an entitled attitude. He is as competitive and disruptive as any CB I’ve studied in this class at the catch point. I love how he attacks the receiver’s hands and punches through the pocket to force incompletions. Mitchell is skilled at undercutting routes and creating turnover opportunities. He anticipates the receiver’s break and drives on the ball. 

While I love his aggressiveness to trigger and drive downhill, Mitchell can be a little too antsy for the big play. There are opportunities made available to catch him with a double move and draw him downhill to open a deep shot down the field. His backpedal is adequate but there can be lateness and delays out of his it. He rarely aligns in press-man, leading to questions about his recovery speed. Can he lose early and recover to get back into phase with speed? Not entirely sure. His gate and stride as a runner is a little restricted and footwork can be choppy. Pre-snap alignment could improve to ensure he’s playing to the strengths of the defensive coverage. 

Overall, Mitchell projects as a Cover 3 or 4 outside cornerback. With his back to the sideline, Mitchell could be at his best to keep his eyes on route concepts and the quarterback. Potential slot ability in 3 to 4 cornerback sets. Ball production makes him a risky DB to target—27 pass breakups and six interceptions since 2022. 

Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Pro Bowl Caliber

For all you who are preparing yourself for the draft, what do you think of the selection? Would you be on board with the Steelers taking Quinyon Mitchell with their first pick? Or do you feel there is a better player at this position, a different one who may still be available, or that Mitchell will not make it to the 20th pick? Personally, I’m all for the Steelers drafting Mitchell with their first pick in the 2024 draft. He would be a player who could be the slot quarterback early as the Steelers get him acclimated, and then could be moved into the outside role opposite of Joey Porter Jr. The only problem with this is I don’t believe Mitchell will be available for the Steelers at 20. If they select him there, it would be great value as a player who may otherwise land in the early teens if not in the top 10.