3 winners following Steelers' 2024 NFL Draft

With the Pittsburgh Steelers' weekend of talent acquisition now behind them, the acclimation period is upon us.   The Steelers will be looking to turn what has been an offseason of talent collection, into a winning football team.   And after reviewing the draft class, here are the players and personnel members who leave the draft as […]

Rob Gregson NFL News Writer
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Dec 31, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

With the Pittsburgh Steelers' weekend of talent acquisition now behind them, the acclimation period is upon us.  

The Steelers will be looking to turn what has been an offseason of talent collection, into a winning football team.  

And after reviewing the draft class, here are the players and personnel members who leave the draft as "winners."


Winner #1: Starting QB

Dec 16, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson is in "pole position" to be the starting QB when the regular season opens in September. That has been the rhetoric out of Pittsburgh all offseason and was confirmed again by Mike Tomlin after the draft on Saturday. But whether it’s him or Justin Fields, both of them have to feel good leaving the draft. 

Pittsburgh upgraded the three offensive positions that were glaring needs. They gave the starting signal caller better protection via tackle Troy Fautanu, a ready-made center in Zach Frazier, and a viable receiving option to pair with George Pickens after drafting Roman Wilson

Coupling that with the backfield and tight end room already in place, and there will be no excuses for poor QB play this season. 


Winner #2: RB Room

Dec 7, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren (30) and Najee Harris (22) talk with running backs coach Eddie Faulkner (right) on the sidelines against the New England Patriots during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh didn't add just one, or two viable starters to the offensive line, they added three when they opened Day 3 of the draft by using their last valuable pick to select small school gem and Shrine Bowl standout Mason McCormick from South Dakota State. 

Adding a tackle-guard-center trio of the future to pair with second-year starter Broderick Jones, and it's not out of the realm of possibilities that you look up in a few years and Pittsburgh has one of the best lines in the league, with four or five players that have yet to even hit their prime in their mid to late 20s.

That bodes well for whoever is running the ball but certainly for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren who each went for over 1000 yards from scrimmage last season and boast one of the league's best one-two punches at RB.

So even with points flying and offenses following, Pittsburgh is going back to the future when analyzing their offseason moves as they look to identify as a hard-nosed running team once again. 


Winner #3: Omar Khan

Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan during the NFL combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The "Khan artist" as he's been deemed, stole the show last year when he moved all around the draft board in his inaugural draft, drafting three players that would start and five who played significant roles for the Steelers. 

Time will tell how this his second class compares, but when you consider that the team added players Fautanu, Frazier, Roman Wilson, and Payton Wilson all lower than they were projected to go and didn't even have to trade to do so, it shows that Khan may have already mastered this draft thing, and only two years into the job as head man.