It’s Christmas in April! The 2024 NFL Draft is set to begin and soon all the speculation will turn into results. As the Steelers finalize their Draft board and gather as much information as possible from other teams in the league, their picture is starting to take shape.

For the rest of us, it’s time to put our final thoughts and projections into print in what will likely be a futile attempt to predict the outcome of one of the most unpredictable events on the sports calendar.

For my Steelers 7-Round Mock Draft, I’ve focused in on position groups and names that we’ve been tracking intently as the big day approaches. We all know the big positions of interest by now: Center, Tackle, Wide Receiver… but what other areas the team will prioritize as players come off the board is anyone’s guess.

But let’s get to the Picks, shall we? Here are my final predictions for how the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 Draft could shake out.

TRADE!!!! Pittsburgh sends Pick 1:20 to the Cardinals for Picks 1:27 & 3:66

ROUND 1, PICK 27

GRAHAM BARTON | OC/OG | DUKE

While this may feel too good to be true, and in the end it might be, it feels like the Steelers might be able to have their cake and eat it too in Round 1 of the Draft. I really believe someone is going to want to come up around that 20th pick for one of the OTs or CBs available in that range. The Cardinals have Draft picks to spare, and the Steelers take advantage by moving back 7 spots and picking up another 3rd Round pick.

There’s still a good chance Barton makes it to this part of the Draft, with many of the teams in the 21-26 range needed Edge Rushers and Offensive Tackles more desperately than they need interior O-Linemen. In this scenario, the Steelers add their top OC prospect in the class and gain Draft capital on this move back with the Cards.

TRADE!!!! Pittsburgh sends Picks 2:51 & 3:98 to the Commanders for Pick 2:40

ROUND 2, PICK 40

XAVIER LEGETTE | WR | SOUTH CAROLINA

After moving back in the 1st Round, the Steelers get aggressive in the 2nd to go up and get a physical, high-upside receiver that projects as a nearly perfect fit for new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme. Legette is a big-bodied pass catcher with good YAC ability on underneath routes, while also having the speed and body control to work deep down the field and haul in 50/50 balls in tight coverage. Legette is also a willing blocker and takes pride in being bigger and stronger than his opponents. He could be a homerun pick to fill the Steelers gaping hole at WR2.

ROUND 3, PICK 66 (FROM CARDINALS)

MAASON SMITH | DT | LSU

Smith’s measurables are eerily similar to 2023 2nd-Round pick Keeanu Benton, and while his production was below par for LSU the last two seasons, much of that can be chalked up to nagging injuries and, at times, poor usage. Smith has elite length and can control blockers at the point of attack with ease when he gains initial leverage. He has some quick-twitch pass-rush ability as well, and uses his natural athletic advantages well to shed blocks and make plays on the ball. He needs a serious amount of coaching up, but Steelers DL Coach Karl Dunbar is one of the best in the business and should be able to help the former Tiger reach his potential in short order. This could be a home-run pick for the future for the Steelers.

ROUND 3, PICK 84

BLAKE FISHER | OT | NOTRE DAME

Fisher is an extremely young OT prospect with great size and solid athletic traits. He does a great job as a run blocker on the move and would be a great fit in Arthur Smith’s zone blocking scheme. Needs to work on his anticipation and footwork in pass pro, where he can lose reps quickly if he gets himself out of position. Overall, Fisher has a lot of upside for a Day 2 OT pick and could compete to be the Steelers swing tackle out of the gate. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have both expressed faith in incumbent LT Dan Moore Jr. to hold down the left side for the final year of his contract. Fisher could hopefully develop quickly and get a look as a potential starter in 2025.

ROUND 4, PICK 119

JARRIAN JONES | CB | FSU

Jones is a fiesty slot corner with elite quickness and agility. Though he isn’t the most technically sound tackler, he’s willing enough to come downhill on ball carriers on the outside and keep Receiver YAC to a minimum in the open field. You don’t want Jones moving outside at the NFL level, but he has starter potential as a Nickel CB, a position the Steelers need desperately in this year’s Draft..

ROUND 6, PICK 178

ISAAC GUERENDO | RB | LOUISVILLE

Some would consider this a luxury pick, but in Rounds 5-7 specifically it’s all about adding potential to the roster, and no one has more potential than the 6’0″, 220 pound speedster out of Louisville. Guerendo is absolutely electric with the ball in his hands and displays solid vision as a one-cut homerun hitter out of the backfield. At his size, he shouldn’t be able to run like he did in Indy at the Combine, posting a 4.33 40-yd dash and blowing away scouts with his exceptional athleticism. I would absolutely love this selection for the Steelers. Guerendo would be an immediate weapon in the return game and would give PIT something they don’t really have in their RB room currently: breakaway ability from anywhere on the field.

ROUND 6, PICK 195

JAYLEN HARRELL | ED/LB | MICHIGAN

With their final pick in the Draft, I have the Steelers targeting a player who has the versatility to play on the Edge as a stand up pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme, or to move off the ball and play ILB at the next level. Harrell is twitchy and bendy off the edge, but he does need to improve his play strength and recognition skills if he wants to make a roster as a rotational defensive asset. Harrell should be able to provide quality Special Teams snaps as a Rookie while he grows into a larger role.

That does it for me on the 2024 Mock Drafts! Be sure to check out my full Round 1 Mock on fansfirstsports.com and tune into the “FFSN NFL Draft Preview” with myself and Andrew Wilbar the morning after each Day of the Draft!