The Pittsburgh Steelers, with the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, find themselves in a familiar position—strategizing to fill the gaps that could elevate them from contenders to champions. Among the key positions in need of talent are wide receiver, offensive tackle, center, and cornerback.
Yet, it’s the center position, left vacant since the departure of Mason Cole, that’s drawing particular attention and speculation. The buzz around the Steelers’ draft room is not just about who they’ll pick but also about the strategy they’ll employ to secure their targets.
Pittsburgh Steelers Eyeing Centers in Draft
The heart of the matter for the Pittsburgh Steelers is the center position. ESPN draft analysts Field Yates and Mel Kiper have pinpointed this as Pittsburgh’s critical area of focus. According to their insights, the Steelers could very well find their next starting center without dipping into their first-round picks.
Names like Duke’s Graham Barton, Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, and West Virginia’s Zach Frazier are floating around as potential fits. However, it’s Powers-Johnson and Frazier are projected to be available in the second round, offering the Steelers a golden opportunity to address other needs in the first round.
“I mocked them early in the second round, obviously, and the feedback that I have gotten since this mock dropped is that both of the centers were too high — both Jackson Powers-Johnson and Zach Frazier,” Yates said on the “First Draft Podcast.” “Graham Barton, he’s an unimpeachable first-round pick. I might have been too low on Barton with him at 20th overall.”
If that’s the case, the Steelers could have another successful draft under general manager Omar Khan, who was praised for his first draft a year ago.
With the center being a potential target in the second round, Pittsburgh Steelers can then focus on wide receiver, offensive tackle, or cornerback in the first.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Strategy, Aggressive Maneuvering Required?
General Manager Omar Khan, known for his calculated draft-day moves, might need to employ some of that trademark aggression. Pittsburgh’s first selection in the second round comes at No. 51, which might be too late to secure Powers-Johnson or Frazier without action. Khan’s willingness to make bold moves could see the Steelers trading up in the second round to ensure they don’t miss out on their targeted center.
BREAKING:
Najee Harris is NOT a part of the Steelers long-term plan at the Running Back position, per my Pittsburgh source.
This offseason, the front office has considered switching to a Jaylen Warren RB1 situation.
At the time Diontae Johnson was traded to the Carolina… pic.twitter.com/i0ze5WYdar
— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7) April 9, 2024
The scenario underscores a broader strategy: balancing immediate needs with long-term vision. Pittsburgh’s ability to navigate this draft successfully could set the stage for another triumphant era under Khan’s stewardship, reminiscent of his praised draft strategy from the previous year.
Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Strategy Eyes Future
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ draft strategy extends beyond mere player acquisition. It’s about crafting a team capable of contending at the highest levels. With the NFL landscape as competitive as ever, Pittsburgh’s decisions in the coming weeks will be scrutinized and analyzed.
Yet, the consensus among experts like Yates and Kiper suggests optimism that the Pittsburgh Steelers can indeed turn these draft picks into the cornerstone of their future success.
As the draft day draws near, the anticipation builds not just in Pittsburgh but across the NFL. The Steelers stand at a crossroads, with the potential to secure a draft that could redefine their future. The decisions made in the war room will echo on the fields of the NFL, as Pittsburgh seeks to navigate the draft board with precision, eyeing a future as bright as the steel city’s illustrious past.
Sources: Yardbarker
