PITTSBURGH -- The 2024 NFL draft was held April 25-27 in Detroit. The Pittsburgh Steelers made seven of the draft's 257 picks, spending their first two selections on offensive linemen.
ESPN provided pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Steelers' selections as they were made.
A look at each of Pittsburgh's selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 20: Troy Fautanu, T, Washington
My take: The board fell in such a way that the Steelers had their pick of the draft's top centers and cornerbacks, but they opted instead to select an offensive tackle with their first-round pick for the second year in a row. Though his frame suggests he's capable of moving inside, Fautanu is a ready-made starter at left tackle. Coach Mike Tomlin said they "legitimately see" Fautanu as a tackle and he figures to displace current starter Dan Moore Jr., who's started nearly every game at the position since he was drafted in 2021. That would pair him with Broderick Jones at right tackle, last year's first-round pick, who started 11 games a rookie.
Does he have any ties to the Steelers: Not only did the Steelers meet with him at the combine, attend his pro day and host him for a top-30 visit in Pittsburgh, but Fautanu grew up as a massive Steelers fan. He wore No. 43 in high school in honor of the original Pittsburgh Troy: Troy Polamalu, who like Fautanu, is Samoan. Now the two share even more similarities as two Steelers first-round picks.
What we're hearing about Fautanu: "His relationship with the game is a pure one, man. He's a competitor. He loves football, he loves the things that come with football, based on talking to those around him, the preparation things, the training, the practice. He's a black-and-gold type of a guy." -- Mike Tomlin, on what qualities made Fautanu stand out.
Round 2, No. 51: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
My take: The Steelers answered perhaps their most pressing need entering the draft by selecting Frazier, a local product who impressed the Steelers with his consistency and work ethic as a four-year starter at West Virginia. Frazier figures to slot in right away as the Steelers' starting center after the team released two-year starter Mason Cole prior to free agency. Frazier, a two-time All-American, is the second offensive lineman drafted by the Steelers this year and third taken by the team in the first two rounds of the past two drafts, showing the Steelers' commitment to building their offense from the trenches.
What we're hearing about Frazier: "That's who he is, and that's who his résumé is. It wasn't trying to just do some dramatic shot for the camera. I mean that's his history and his body of work. One of the tougher guys I've seen on film. [He] reminds me a lot of [Titans center] Ben Jones -- and that's a real toughness to 'em." -- Steelers OC Arthur Smith on Frazier's bear crawl off the field after fracturing his fibula in his final college game.
Round 3, No. 84: Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
My take: After trading away Diontae Johnson, the Steelers needed to replenish the wide receiver room, and they did just that by selecting Wilson -- a versatile threat they hope will extend their streak of drafting solid receivers on Day 2 of the NFL draft. In addition to his speed and ability as a vertical threat, perhaps the most enticing thing about Wilson is his willingness to block, something he showed in Michigan's run-heavy scheme -- and something he'll likely be asked to do frequently in an Arthur Smith offense rooted in a strong run game.
Ties to the Steelers to know: Wilson went to St. Louis High School in Hawaii, the same high school as brothers Nick and Nate Herbig. A year ago, the Steelers drafted ILB Nick and signed OL Nate in free agency. Wilson said he and Nick, the younger Herbig, were in the same grade, good friends and grew up playing on the same teams.
Round 3, No. 98 (from Philadelphia): Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
My take: The Steelers turned the pick acquired from the Eagles for QB Kenny Pickett into Wilson, adding a speedy defender to a position group Pittsburgh already addressed in free agency by signing Patrick Queen. Though he was healthy and wildly productive the past two seasons with four interceptions, a pick-six and 221 total tackles, Wilson has an extensive injury history that makes him a high-risk, high-reward type of pick. He has torn two ACLs and had a shoulder injury that kept him out of all but two games in 2021. Still, his speed and productivity in coverage figure to make him a great partner to Queen -- and a solid addition with Cole Holcomb still recovering from last year's significant, season-ending knee injury.
Ties to the Steelers to know: It's not so much a tie to the Steelers as it is a tie to Pittsburgh, but Wilson's older brother Bryse pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2021 to '22 and used to live in the city's Strip District. The younger Wilson said he has been to the city a couple of times and attended games and was very familiar with Pittsburgh's rabid sports culture.
Round 4, No. 119: Mason McCormick, G, South Dakota State
My take: Offensive line coach Pat Meyer said it best: Christmas came early. It's hard for him to feel any other way with the Steelers using three of their first five picks on the offensive line. McCormick isn't necessarily a starter from day one, but he's a versatile interior lineman who spent most of his time lining up at left guard for SDSU. He's now part of a young nucleus of offensive linemen tasked with moving the team into the next era of Steelers football along with 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones and 2024 picks Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier.
Round 6: No. 178 (via Arizona through Carolina): Logan Lee, DL, Iowa
My take: Lee is the Steelers' first pick on the defensive line this year. Though he was versatile in college, he projects as a defensive end in the Steelers system, giving the team depth behind Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi. Lee also took an official visit to the Steelers during the pre-draft process, further underscoring the significance of those visits. So far, five of the six Steelers 2024 draft picks took official visits to Pittsburgh.
Round 6, No. 195: Ryan Watts, CB, Texas
My take: The Steelers finally address their need at cornerback with their final scheduled pick in the 2024 draft by selecting Watts, who spent two years at Ohio State before transferring to Texas. The Steelers released Patrick Peterson this offseason but added Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson in the trade for receiver Diontae Johnson. Still, the team lacked depth at the position, and Watts, a versatile 6-3, 208-pound defensive back, helps fill that void as a developmental prospect.