Steelers Ignore Massive Roster Holes And Take A Gamble In Latest NFL.com Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an extremely intriguing roster, especially with the new additions of Patrick Queen, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields. Despite the talent added during the 2024 offseason, General Manager Omar Khan and the rest of the front office will have a lot of important decisions to make during the 2024 NFL Draft to keep the impressive offseason going. To say the Steelers' success during the 2024 season hinges on the draft is not an exaggeration, Pittsburgh badly needs immediate help along the offensive line and at wide receiver after trading away Diontae Johnson. The pressure has mounted as the pool of players in free agency has already been mostly picked clean. 

Despite the glaring needs the Steelers have at wide receiver, center, and right tackle, there is still a chance they don't address any of those positions with the 20th overall selection. They do need some depth behind Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson at cornerback, which could be in play in the first round. Gennaro Filice, the deputy editor of written content on the NFL's official website, released his second mock draft for 2024, which had Pittsburgh taking Cooper DeJean at 20. 

"I forced Brock Bowers into the top 10 above. Now I'm bringing a similar conviction to this projection for DeJean, as I'm bullish on the versatile defensive back ultimately being a top-20 pick. Absent through most of the pre-draft process due to a broken leg suffered in November, DeJean just put on an athletic show for scouts at this private workout. The playmaking extraordinaire, and prolific return man, is made for today's NFL with defenses valuing coverage versatility and ball skills at a premium."

The Steelers ignoring their top three positions of need to draft a cornerback at 20th overall would not be as surprising as some may think. The Steelers still need depth at corner, and they need a starting-caliber slot corner. Pittsburgh and Head Coach Mike Tomlin have always valued defensive backs, and have recently been doing lots of research into projected first-round selections like Nate Wiggins. Filice admits him mocking DeJean to Pittsburgh at 20 is partially due to him wanting DeJean to be a top-20 selection, but it certainly is a possibility. 

DeJean is considered one of the most versatile athletes in the 2024 NFL Draft. His pre-draft hype has certainly taken a hit due to his broken leg that he suffered in November. He was unable to compete in the NFL Combine, and his entire pre-draft process has been about his recovery, as well his availability for next season. DeJean was finally cleared for football activities, which allowed him to invite NFL scouts to a private workout, which got many organizations excited about the prospect. 

DeJean impressed during his workout, and it seems as though he has solidified himself as a first round pick. His leg injury hasn't made a negative impact on his athleticism, and he should still be considered a premiere prospect at cornerback. If DeJean is available at 20, the Steelers should consider selecting him. What he brings to the field with his coverage versatility and consistent tackling is something that would greatly benefit Pittsburgh.

Steelers Have A Role For Cooper DeJean

DeJean has experience and the versatility to play all over the defensive backfield. He took the bulk of his snaps in college at outside corner, but also played a fair amount in the slot, at safety, and in the box. He had just five missed tackles in 2023, and had an average Pro Football Focus grade of 82.95 over his last two college seasons. DeJean could be exactly what the Steelers' defense needs: a reliable tackler that can play the slot, while also providing depth on the outside. 

What do you think about the Steelers taking DeJean in the first round? Let us know in the comments below!

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