Steelers Showing Great Interest In Three Prospects Labeled Future Pro Bowlers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have lucked out so far in the 2024 offseason. General Manager Omar Khan has made great moves and been able to upgrade certain positions for a low cost, and now the organization is preparing for a draft that has deep prospect pools at nearly every position of need. The Steelers have a ton of areas to improve in; some are more of priority and others are for depth. Three positions the Steelers need to look into are tackle, cornerback, and inside linebacker, and three guys at those positions have been tabbed as future Pro Bowlers.

The Steelers have had a clear focus throughout the pre-draft process, spending a lot of time and focus on offensive tackles, centers, wide receivers, linebackers and cornerbacks. The Steelers gave out pre-draft visits to three players who are considered by the NFL's Bucky Brooks to be future Pro Bowlers: tackle Taliese Fuaga, cornerback Cooper DeJean, and inside linebacker Payton Wilson. 

Both Fuaga and DeJean are projected to be first-round selections, while Wilson isn't expected to be picked until Day 2 in the second or third round. There is a chance the Steelers could end up with two of these three prospects if Pittsburgh decides to address the depth at inside linebacker early on in the draft, but that is unlikely due to the three large holes on the offensive side of the ball. 

Fuaga is expected to go in the range of the Steelers first selection, likely before Pittsburgh picks. It seems Pittsburgh likes other tackle prospects more, and there has been some talk about Fuaga needing to switch to guard due to him, at times, struggling with the speed of edge rushers. Fuaga is certainly a possibility for Pittsburgh depending on the rest of the tackles and linemen fall in the fall in the first round, but Pittsburgh should have their selection of a few linemen they have been interested in with the 20th overall pick.

It seems to be clear that the Steelers plan to use their first round selection on a much needed offensive linemen, but they also brought DeJean into the facility for a pre-draft visit. The Steelers need depth at corner on the outside behind Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson, and they need someone reliable to play in the slot. DeJean is a great tackler and athlete, and would likely be a great player to have in the slot role on defense. If the Steelers decide they want to go defense in the first round, there is a good chance the pick is DeJean. 

Wilson has a large range of where he could be drafted. Most have him as the second-ranked inside linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft, he is projected to go anywhere from pick 37 to pick 65. The Steelers signed Patrick Queen, but they only have Elandon Roberts under contract for the 2024 season, and there is no telling when Cole Holcomb will be ready to return. Due to the way the Steelers linebacker corp was destroyed by injuries during the 2023 season, it wouldn't be shocking to see them pounce on Wilson if he begins to slide down the board. 

Steelers Could Also Make A Move For A Future All-Pro

The Steelers were tabbed by ESPN's Mina Kimes as a team who could look to jump over the Chicago Bears by trading with the Atlanta Falcons for the eighth overall pick to select Rome Odunze. Odunze is expected to be the third wide receiver to go out of the top three in the draft, with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers going ahead of him. All three are expected to be All-Pro caliber players according to Brooks. 

The Steelers desperately need a second wide receiver to pair with George Pickens, who has already blossomed into a top receiver in the league in his own right. Odunze could be that piece the Steelers are missing, and according to Brooks, Odunze would be well worth the trade up. 

What do you think about the futures of the Steelers top prospects? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation