7-Round Mock Draft: Trades net Cowboys OC, LB, WR, RB

What fun is a mock draft if there aren’t trades involved? The Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones used to have a reputation as wheelers and dealers, but they’ve reserved most of their movement for the second half of most recent drafts. Gone are the days …

What fun is a mock draft if there aren’t trades involved? The Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones used to have a reputation as wheelers and dealers, but they’ve reserved most of their movement for the second half of most recent drafts. Gone are the days when the team moved up or done on a regular basis, but that might all change in 2024 with their “all-in” decree.

Dallas moved back a few spots in 2021 when they dropped from 10th to 12th and still ended up with Micah Parsons. Prior to that, Dallas hadn’t moved in the first round since 2013. That year they dropped from No. 18 to No. 31 and selected Travis Frederick at center along with WR Terence Williams with the extra pick. The year prior they bundled picks to move up and select CB Morris Claiborne. Things have been much more measured in the last decade.

In our latest mock draft simulation, we not only move around in Round 1, but several other times during the draft. The objective is to use the first several picks on players who could fill an immediate role on the club.

Steelers land 2 instant starters in new 2024 mock draft

Check out our first full mock draft of the offseason.

With NFL free agency just two weeks away, we decide to put together our first 2024 NFL mock draft here on Steelers Wire.  This was more about who we think would be best for each team and less about predicting what each team will do on draft day so when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, we weren’t able to just hand-pick our favorite prospects for each round.

Steelers land elite CB in new mock draft

The Steelers select a starting center and a starting cornerback in this new mock draft.

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.

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2024 NFL mock draft: Chargers trade back, add pair of Michigan players in three-round projections

The Chargers moved back five spots in this scenario.

The Chargers must load up on as much talent as possible this offseason to compete with the back-to-back Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, next season.

With the No. 5 overall selection, Los Angeles is in an excellent position to trade back and stockpile more draft picks.

For this mock draft, L.A. trades picks with the Jets, who move up five spots to select Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. Meanwhile, the Bolts acquire an additional third-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick.

Let’s dive in!

Chargers four-round 2024 NFL mock draft

Here is our latest four-round projections that sees the Chargers addressing both sides of the ball, starting with a dynamic offensive weapon.

With two weeks left in the season, the attention surrounding the Chargers has completely shifted to who will be their new general manager and head coach, and who they will add in the offseason.

We will supply you with in-depth coverage from now until Los Angeles is on the clock to inform you who they could target in this upcoming draft.

Here is my latest four-round projections that sees the Bolts addressing both sides of the ball, starting with a dynamic offensive weapon.