Trending: Steelers move up in the most recent mock draft for …
In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers traded up, and in his most recent mock draft, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports thinks they might do it again this year.
Although Edwards believes Pittsburgh may work out a trade with the Seahawks for their No. 16 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the team currently controls the No. 20 pick. The Steelers will then select offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State with that pick.
“Pittsburgh can ill afford to wait until its first pick to see if an offensive tackle is still available, especially with Cincinnati and Los Angeles ahead of Mike Tomlin’s team,” Edwards states. “The Steelers move up to take Taliese Fuaga, who should be an impactful bookend opposite Broderick Jones for many years.”
Pittsburgh used a similar route the previous season, selecting Georgia’s Broderick Jones over the tackle-hungry New York Jets. To move up three spots, the Steelers exchanged their first- and fourth-round picks in 2023.
The club might do the same again to vault its tackle-hungry division foe and go up four spots. In addition, Pittsburgh has two fourth-round picks in this year’s draft because of a trade it made before the season began with the Rams to send guard Kevin Dotson to Los Angeles.
After failing to allow a sack on 339 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, Fuaga ranks as the third-best offensive tackle and No. 12 overall offensive tackle on Pro Football Focus’ big board, making him a potential trade-up candidate.
Throughout his undergraduate career, the mammoth 6-foot-6, 334-pound bodyguard has mostly played right tackle. Jones’ return to his natural position of left tackle would allow him to demote incumbent Dan Moore Jr., who allowed eight sacks in 2023, according to PFF.
As for Seattle, Edwards predicts it will add to its defense, which allowed the third most total yards per game (371.4) in 2023, with Illinois defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton.
If the Steelers want to avoid losing out on adding a premiere offensive tackle like Fuaga, they should see if the Seahawks would take a similar deal as the Patriots did a year ago and sure up their offensive line for many years to come.
