The steelers traded up in the first round of the 2023 nfl draft, and cbs sports’ josh edwards believes they could do it again this season in his latest mock draft. Pittsburgh currently holds the no. 88 record for the most important piece of information. Edwards believes the seahawks could strike a deal with them for their no. 0 seed in the 2024 nfl draft, but edwards believes it will. 16 picks. With this pick, the steelers will then draft oregon state offensive tackle taliese fuaga. “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 squad,” edwards writes. “the steelers move up to take taliese fuaga, who could be a big bookend for broderick jones for many years.”
Last year, pittsburgh followed a similar strategy, signing the new york jets for georgia’s broderick jones. To move up the three spots, the steelers traded their 2023 first- and fourth-round picks. The team could follow suit once more to move up four spots and outpace its tackle-needy division rival. Pittsburgh also has two fourth-round picks in this year’s draft, thanks to a trade with the rams that sent guard kevin dotson to los angeles before the season began. Fuaga is a trade-in because he is the third-best offensive tackle and no. 1).
Since not allowing a sack on 339 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, pro football focus’ big board has 12 overall offensive tackles. Jones would return to his natural position of left tackle and demote incumbent dan moore jr., who allowed eight sacks in 2023, according to pff. Edwards believes seattle 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 a top offensive tackle like fuaga, they should see if the seahawks can take a similar deal as the patriots did a year ago and solidify their offensive line for many years to come.
