Steelers Checked Out An Intriguing Offensive Player From Florida

The Pittsburgh Steelers' staff has been racking up frequent flyer miles attending college Pro Days all over the country. This is no surprise as the 2024 NFL Draft is set to be an exciting one for fans all over the league. It appears it will be an offensively-dominant first round. Tere are a lot of top-tier quarterbacks, exciting wide receivers and solid offensive linemen. This is the perfect scenario for the Steelers. With the 20th overall pick, the team doesn't need a first-round quarterback and might not even use it on a wide receiver. 

What they do need to do is build up the trenches on the offense. The team currently lacks a center, regardless of what anyone says about James Daniels. In addition to a center, they need to find another offensive tackle that they can pair with 2023 first-round selection Broderick Jones. Jones has had to cover the right side of the line, which is not his natural position, so Dan Moore Jr. could stay on the left.   

The University of Florida did not draw a big crowd, as they have only two legitimate prospects: center Kingsley Eguakun and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The Steelers are reported to have been very impressed by Eguakun, who is projected to go late on day two or early on day three, according to NFL insider Tony Pauline from Sportskeeda. 

"Eguakun had a solid day on Thursday. He timed 7.3 seconds in the three cone, 4.4 seconds in the short shuttle, touched 32 inches in the vertical jump and 9-feet in the broad. The mobile center, who measured 6-foot-3.5 and 304 pounds at the Combine, looked good in position drills. Eguakun is getting a lot of interest from center needy teams Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers. It's conceivable whichever team does not come away with Jackson Powers-Johnson in round one use a pick on Eguakun later on in the draft," Pauline wrote.

Eguakun started the past three years for the Gators. He is credited with having good hand work and speed accelerating into space. He has a wide, solid base and doesn't get easily thrown off balance. However, he is somewhat undersized, a good 20 lbs. lighter than top prospect Jackson Powers-Johnson. That smaller size impacts his strength and his NFL draft profile and scouting report says this could make starting in the NFL hard for him. While he is tenacious and willing to fight for the line, facing a professional nose tackle might be more than he can handle.  

This draft is set up to be a historic one for centers, with the possibility of three going in round one. Depending on the mock you read, there are four who come up consistently; Powers-Johnson is at the top of the list, and the other spots are split between Zach Frazier from West Virginia, Sedrick Van Pran out of Georgia, and Graham Barton from Duke. 

Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has been working some incredible magic so far in the 2024 offseason, but it hasn't touched the offensive line yet. There was a lack of solid centers available in free agency and now most have been taken, so the options are limited. The Steelers need someone solid to support whichever new quarterback they decide to start, presumably Russell Wilson.  

The Steelers' Quarterback Dilemma 

The Steelers finished 2023 with a quarterback dilemma. Third-stringer Mason Rudolph outperformed starter Kenny Pickett during the home stretch. They wiped the slate clean on that room and decided to start all over, signing Wilson and trading for Justin Fields. 

Wilson is expected to start, but that has led to a debate in the media about what is in the best long-term interests of the team. Wilson, who is entering his 13th season has been to two Super Bowls, winning one, and was selected to nine Pro Bowls. Fields, who is widely considered one of the NFL's best athletes at the position, is entering his fourth season. 

Experience might trump potential for now, but many believe it won't be long before Fields surpasses Wilson. Fields spent three seasons with the Chicago Bears where, according to some, his development was stunted by the chaos he was subjected to play in. That included a lack of supporting weapons and a revolving offensive coordinator door. Pittsburgh is the poster child for stability, despite all that we are seeing this offseason, they are not known to just give up on players or coaches. If it is stability that Fields needs, he is going to get in the Steel City. 

What do you think about Eguakun? Do you think he has what it takes to be a solid center in the NFL? If not who would you prefer they drafted? If the team were to use a later pick on him, who would you want to see drafted with their first pick? Click to comment below.

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