Through two days of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have already hit on several big needs.
In Round 1, they continued to prioritize the trenches when they selected Washington tackle Troy Fautanu. The offensive line overhaul continued in Round 2 with West Virginia Center Zach Frazier, and then came a much-needed wide receiver in Michigan’s Roman Wilson in Round 3. With their second third-round pick, the Steelers added depth at linebacker with NC State’s Payton Wilson.
With so many needs already addressed, two remaining positions stand out entering Day 3: defensive back and defensive line. Here’s a look at some of the best options still available at those positions, plus a few other possible targets.
Players’ overall rankings and round projections (listed in parenthesis) are via The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler. An asterisk indicates a player took a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh.
NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Steelers draft tracker: Every pick, everything you need to know
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate the selections
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
Day 3
Defensive back
S Jaden Hicks, Washington State, 6-2, 215 (39, second)
A physical safety who excels in the box, Hicks could be a useful piece in the Steelers’ three-safety packages.
CB T.J. Tampa, Iowa State, 6-0, 194 (55, second-third)
Tampa isn’t known for his speed, but he’s physical and instinctive in zone coverage. It’s a bit of a surprise he’s still available.
CB DJ James, Auburn, 5-11, 175 (85, third)
James is undersized but has the feet and competitive toughness to be effective in the slot, where the Steelers don’t have many proven options at the moment.
CB Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn, 6-0, 190 (117, fourth)
Decamerion Richardson, Mississippi State, 6-0, 188 (fourth-fifth)
Cam Hart, Notre Dame, 6-0, 202 (fourth-fifth)
*CB M.J. Devonshire, Pitt, 5-10, 186 (183, fifth-sixth)
“Devonshire is more of an aggressive athlete than true instinctive ballhawk, but his linear burst, speed and length help him make plays in coverage,” Brugler writes.
CB Kalen King, Penn State, 5-11, 190 (189, fifth-sixth)
A local product who was once considered a possible early-round pick, King has flashed in the past, including in 2022 opposite Joey Porter Jr.
S/LB James Williams, Miami (Fla.), 6-4, 231 (243, sixth-seventh)
At the Senior Bowl, Tomlin had his eye on Williams, who played safety at Miami but is big enough to be a linebacker. He might not play on defense soon, but he could be an asset on special teams.
*CB Beanie Bishop, WVU, 5-9, 180 (281, seventh-PFA)
The Steelers found two “Avatar” corners last year in Porter and Cory Trice Jr. Adding a smaller but speedier player like Bishop would infuse this group with 4.39 speed.
*CB Daequan Hardy, Penn State, 5-9, 179 (261, seventh-PFA)
A nickel at Penn State, Hardy would help fill a growing need for a Steelers team that uses sub packages often. It also helps that he was on the same 7-on-7 team as Porter and Tomlin’s son, Dino. If he’s not drafted, I’d put him near the top of the list of players the Steelers could sign as an undrafted free agent.
Defensive line
DT Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, 6-3, 283 (75, third)
With experience playing across the defensive line at both end and tackle, Dorlus would fit the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme well. He had five sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and a whopping eight batted passes last season with the Ducks.
DT Mekhi Wingo, LSU, 6-0, 284 (95, third-fourth)
Gabe Hall, Baylor, 6-6, 294 (fourth round)
*Jaden Crumedy, Mississippi State, 6-3, 300 lbs (201, fifth-sixth)
“Crumedy’s tape is more sporadic than consistent, but if you grade the flashes, not many 300-pounders have his athletic movements and power potential,” Brugler writes. Considering the Steelers brought him in for a visit, perhaps this is a player they’d take a chance on with the hope he can develop well enough to be part of the future.
*DT Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa (211, sixth)
“Boyd can get stuck on blocks versus long-armed resistance, but he is a stout run stuffer who eats up space and flashes pass-rush potential,” Brugler writes. “He will interest different schemes as a quality depth piece.
*Edge/DT Logan Lee, Iowa, 6-5, 281 (271, seventh-PFA)
A tweener body type, Lee started every game since his sophomore season and posted consistent production each year. He projects as a reserve base end.
Wide receiver
Pittsburgh drafted Wilson in Round 3, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the team double-dipped at this position, especially given how deep the class is.
Troy Franklin, Oregon, 6-2, 176 (58, second-third)
Brenden Rice, USC, 6-2, 208 (103, third-fourth)
The Steelers love players with NFL bloodlines. The son of Jerry Rice would fill a need and fit that criteria
Javon Baker, WR, UCF, 6-1, 202 (120, fourth)
*Tahj Washington, USC, 5-9, 174 (178, fifth-sixth)
The Steelers have a knack for discovering talent in the mid-to-late rounds at receiver. Keep an eye on this pre-draft visitor.
Offensive line
Taking another offensive lineman isn’t a priority, but depth up front is never a bad thing, and the Steelers visited with several later-round prospects.
*OC/OG Hunter Nourzad, Penn State, 6-3, 317 (128, fourth)
“He lacks overwhelming strength or elite athleticism but maximizes what he has with smarts, physicality and well-schooled technique,” Brugler writes.
*OC/OG Mason McCormick, South Dakota State, 6-4, 309 (125, fourth)
McCormick projects as a Day 1 backup (at all three interior line positions) who could become a starter with more coaching. Given the Steelers’ desire to add versatile linemen, this could be a fit, especially after he came to Pittsburgh for a visit.
*OG/OT Travis Glover, Georgia State, 6-6, 317 (226, sixth-seventh)
Once again, his experience at guard and tackle would add value late in the draft.
*OG Steven Jones, Oregon, 6-5, 342 (NR, PFA)
*OL Travis Clayton, England, 6-7, 301 (NR, PFA)
A very interesting prospect with prototypical size who also runs a 4.81 40. That’s faster than any other tackles or guards in Brugler’s list of draftable players.
Quarterback
Yes, the Steelers added Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but they like to carry three on the roster, and Kyle Allen is not assured a spot as QB3.
Michael Pratt, Tulane, 6-2, 217 (104, third-fourth)
Perhaps overlooked coming from a small school, Pratt has decent tools and a lot of experience and production.
(Photo of Jaden Hicks: Darren Yamashita / USA Today)
