Esmond'S MOCK DRAFT
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4/17/2024

  • Esmond DRAFTING FOR THE
    Steelers
Draft Selections
Taliese Fuaga Head Shot
PICK: 20 RND: 1 (PIT)
Taliese Fuaga
OT Oregon State
Xavier Legette Head Shot
PICK: 51 RND: 2 (PIT)
Xavier Legette
WR South Carolina
Caelen Carson Head Shot
PICK: 84 RND: 3 (PIT)
Caelen Carson
CB Wake Forest
Johnny Wilson Head Shot
PICK: 98 RND: 3 (PIT)
Johnny Wilson
WR Florida State
Hunter Nourzad Head Shot
PICK: 119 RND: 4 (PIT)
Hunter Nourzad
C Penn State
Layden Robinson Head Shot
PICK: 178 RND: 6 (PIT)
Layden Robinson
OG Texas A&M
Johnny Dixon Head Shot
PICK: 195 RND: 6 (PIT)
Johnny Dixon
CB Penn State
Draft Grade — Steelers
Overall B-
ValueB- NeedC+ TradesB- FutureB-
More right than wrong for the Steelers, and a B- to prove it.

If confidence were a draft strategy, the Steelers would have aced it. Hunter Nourzad at Round 4, Pick 19 is 38 spots clear of where he belonged. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B-.

The quarterback hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Spending an early pick on offensive lineman with quarterback, interior defensive lineman and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to.

The Legette value carries more weight than any single miss elsewhere. They left with cornerback solved and the rest of the wish list mostly ticked off.

Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.

Pick Analysis
Pick20 Rnd1 Taliese Fuaga
In Round 1, Pick 20 they get protection for the quarterback. More want than need.
Pick51 Rnd2 Xavier Legette
A slide stopped in the 51st overall pick, with Xavier Legette worth more than the price. It fills a real need, too.
Pick84 Rnd3 Caelen Carson
Caelen Carson at pick 84 is a conviction pick that outran the value. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Pick98 Rnd3 Johnny Wilson
Johnny Wilson at pick No. 98 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Pick119 Rnd4 Hunter Nourzad
The eyebrow-raiser of the weekend. They went offensive lineman with Hunter Nourzad while clear needs at quarterback, interior defensive lineman and other spots sat open.
Pick178 Rnd6 Layden Robinson
Layden Robinson at slot 178 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. It is more luxury than necessity; they were already set here.
Pick195 Rnd6 Johnny Dixon
Johnny Dixon at slot 195 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the cornerback. A need, and now a little less of one.