Steelers Shockingly Land Experienced Quarterback In First Round Of Latest ESPN Mock Draft

All 32 NFL teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, are looking ahead towards the 2024 NFL Draft following an exhilarating Super Bowl LVIII. The new league year will commence in the middle of March and while free agency is equally as important to building a championship roster, it's difficult not to get excited about the up-and-coming collegiate prospects. Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan have a difficult task ahead. The team has many needs, but with only one pick in the first round (as of now), it will be critical for them to build off of their momentum from the 2023 NFL Draft.

One of the more glaring issues on the roster entering the offseason may not even be addressed in the draft. Kenny Pickett is currently the only quarterback under contract for 2024 following the mutual parting between the Steelers and Mitchell Trubisky. There is no guarantee that the organization will have the opportunity to re-sign Mason Rudolph, so free agency and the draft are foregone conclusions if he does not return.

Mock drafts are pouring in daily, but some are a tad more highly-regarded than others. The folks at ESPN do a solid job and Field Yates released his initial predictions on Wednesday morning. In a rather shocking turn of events, he has Pittsburgh going after an experienced college quarterback who had an immense amount of success in his final season with the University of Oregon: Bo Nix.

"This one might be a surprise, as the Steelers have backed Kenny Pickett -- who they took at No. 20 two years ago -- this offseason. But they also said they plan to add competition for him in the quarterback room. Quarterback picks in this range are often polarizing, but my fundamental mindset is the Steelers' ceiling with Pickett under center is too low for a franchise whose standard is not simply making the playoffs but making deep runs. Pittsburgh has lost five straight playoff games now."

He makes good points. Pickett does deserve some competition and should not walk into training camp expecting to be the guy regardless of what happens throughout the summer months. Nix will be 24 at the time of his rookie season after playing five years at the college level, three with Auburn University and his final two with the Ducks.

Yates expanded on his analysis when it comes to Nix. He was highly effective in his final year in college and also finished third in Heisman voting after putting up video game-like numbers.

"Nix blends sharp accuracy with some razzle dazzle (something he has refined during his college career after transferring from Auburn) and an ability to quickly scan the field to deliver the right read. He set the FBS single-season record for completion percentage in 2023 at 77.4% while throwing 45 touchdown passes to three interceptions."

Time will tell if the Steelers are significantly interested in the quarterback position during pro days and the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Fans may scoff at the idea of drafting another signal-caller that will be 24 at the beginning of his first professional campaign. It's hard to deny his outstanding numbers, however. Tossing 45 touchdowns and only three interceptions is wildly impressive regardless of what level you are playing at.

Steelers Likely To Give Pickett One Last Chance

The sample size from the 2022 first-round selection is lacking without Matt Canada calling the plays. Pickett performed well after Canada's firing, but didn't last more than six quarters after an injury derailed his sophomore campaign. That's when Rudolph came in a few weeks later and proved that maybe Canada was the problem all along. He's going to need competition, though. The question becomes: will it be Rudolph or how far is the team willing to reach in the draft to get the right guy?

Do you think the Steelers are going to draft a quarterback in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!

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