When the Pittsburgh Steelers go on the clock in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, it could come down to whether they want a center or a cornerback. We’ve seen mock drafts that opt for a center in the first round, and in our own Steelers mock, that’s the move.
But Pro Football Focus went the other way in their new two-round mock draft. They had top center Jackson Powers-Johnson going No. 17 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, so the Steelers opted for Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Here’s what PFF’s Trevor Sikkema has to say about the pick:
The Steelers got a good one in Joey Porter Jr. at the top of the second round last year, but their investment in cornerbacks must continue. Mitchell was dominant at the Senior Bowl. He is scheme-versatile in both skill and athleticism. He could easily be picked higher than this, but he will be high on Pittsburgh’s board if he makes it this far.
If JPJ is off the board, a lockdown cornerback like Mitchell makes perfect sense. Especially when you consider in the second round, the Steelers land West Virginia center Zach Frazier. There are lots of directions the Steelers could go early in the draft, including selecting a quarterback, but cornerback and center in some order feels like the safer strategy.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]