With the 22nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…
The last thing on the mind of Coach Tomlin and his players is the offseason. But luckily for the Steelers, the team has a whole scouting department dedicated to finding the next crop of talent entering the league. So with the calendar flipping to November, and the college football season getting to the games that […]
The last thing on the mind of Coach Tomlin and his players is the offseason.
But luckily for the Steelers, the team has a whole scouting department dedicated to finding the next crop of talent entering the league.
So with the calendar flipping to November, and the college football season getting to the games that matter most, A to Z put together a way to early mock draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers landed a prospect everyone will love:
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
"The Steelers will likely hire a new OC in the offseason as Kenny Pickett approaches year three. With continuity in the backfield and along the offensive line, it makes sense to add another dynamic weapon to the perimeter to see if Kenny Pickett is truly a franchise QB."
– Rob Gregson
Now, I know what some of you are thinking. "Yea another WR is fun, but we already have George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, so why draft another WR?"
A valid question, there is a rather simple answer:
On offense, the team is set everywhere except interior offensive line, a position that is not only underrepresented in this draft, but also doesn't have the value that WR does.
The most logical explanation would be a corner, but Pittsburgh may look to pair a big-time veteran next to Joey Porter Jr.
And most importantly, another corner or linebacker doesn't answer your biggest question…Is Kenny Pickett truly a franchisee QB?
Nabers will make the offense multiple and explosive, which, along with a new OC in Pittsburgh, will give Kenny Pickett all he needs to be successful. The pick would be critical in determining exactly who Pickett is, in year three.
In order to get an idea on whether or not this fit between Nabers and Pittsburgh was feasible, I reached out to a reliable source:
[Nabers] Can play in the slot and outside. He’s explosive off the line, with good but not elite deep speed. Good route runner, who changes up his tempo to keep cornerbacks guessing. Great hands. Tracks the ball well downfield. Wins 50/50 balls consistently. Not as good of a separator as Diontae Johnson, but better than Pickens. Depending on where he runs in the 4.4s will determine how high he goes. -Anonymous Scout
So we'll see where Pittsburgh is picking come April. Steelers fans are hoping its even later than the 22nd overall pick, and that Pittsburgh hits on another WR.
If they decide to go such a route, Nabers should be on their short list.
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Early projections have offense flying off the board
The A to Z Sports team unveils their way-too-early 2024 NFL mock draft projections for the first round.
