Steelers Will Provide Revealing Hints Regarding Who They Will Select In The 2024 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers and all other 31 teams in the league are deep in preparations for the 2024 NFL Draft, trying to find their next group of rookies they hope can make an impact at the pro level. A big part of that process is scheduling pre-draft visits with prospects. A Steelers insider said fans looking to get a read on which prospects the team is keen on selecting should pay close attention to the ones coming to the city. 

Over the weekend, beat writer Ray Fittipaldo from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette discussed with Adam Bittner some mock drafts and players that analysts have speculated could join the Steelers at the end of April. He said the pre-draft visits could provide a potential road map into who the team will select when they go to the podium to make their picks. 

"For the fans out there, pay attention to the pre-draft visits, the guys who are coming into Pittsburgh to meet with coaches on the south side," he said. "If you look at last year, their top four picks all took visits to the Steelers before the draft." 

Those top four selections, Broderick Jones, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, and Darnell Washington all met with Steelers coaches in Pittsburgh and, had their names announced as draft picks by the organization. All four played snaps during the 2023 season and made varying degrees of impact. Jones started on the bench but rose to a starting spot on the right side of the line. While he might not stay on the right, Jones looks to have established himself as a starter for the team for the foreseeable future.

Porter made the starting lineup for the first time in Week 8 and established himself as a shutdown corner. Porter had one interception in the 2023 campaign but was polished in coverage. According to Pro Football Reference, he allowed completions on 47.6% of his targets and only had one touchdown against him. He has work to do on cleaning up penalties but that should come with experience. 

Benton helped provide a boost to a defensive line unit that was without leader Cam Heyward for a long stretch of the season. He came in and proved he was more than up to the task. Playing in 43% of defensive snaps in 2023, he registered two forced fumbles, eight quarterback hits, and his first career sack against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Washington lived up to his hype as an effective blocker in the 2023 season. So much so, that people were clamoring for him to move to tackle. He caught seven passes for 61 yards through the campaign. His lack of production as a receiver had some questioning his usage.   

Steelers Not Shy About Targets For 2024 NFL Draft

Fittipaldo said it's clear that the team places high importance on having prospects they'd like to draft in for a visit to Pittsburgh. He added that the positions they'll likely covet in April have been prominent in the visits that have already happened. 

Yards after catching monster Malachi Corley was reportedly in for a visit according to Jordan Schultz. He isn't the only receiver the team has hosted, and certainly won't be the last. Fittipaldo reported that the team has also hosted tackle Amarius Mims for a visit.

"They've already had a bunch of tackles in," he said. "They've already had a bunch of receivers in. They're not trying to hide who their targets are. They never really do."  

The pre-draft visits should start to pick up again with the NFL meetings all finished. Expect the team to host more tackles and receivers as they do their homework on those two positions of need. There may be some smoke screens, like quarterback Michael Penix Jr. but hosting a prospect in Pittsburgh is usually a pretty good indicator the team will pick them in the draft. 

Do you think the Steelers should hold their cards closer to the vest when it comes to their draft interests? Comment below!

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