With the NFL combine just a week away, it’s time for the first installment of our annual post called Steelers first round pick in five tries. Every year we try to nail down the pick, giving ourselves five guesses. It’s still early, but we know the positions of need for the Steelers. We also have a pretty good idea who might be available at 21. Lots will change between now and April, but is a good exercise to get an idea where Omar Khan may be leaning for the Steelers first round pick.
5. Ashton Jeanty RB – Boise St.
I know it sounds crazy that the Steelers would draft a running back in the first round……again. Especially with all the needs this team has elsewhere. But faced with the option of taking the third best receiver in a weak class, or taking possibly a generational talent at running back the Steelers could and should opt for the latter. Daniel Jeremiah felt the same as he had the Steelers taking Jeanty in his latest mock draft https://x.com/movethesticks/status/1891897189355376853?s=61
As far as the player, there’s no question Ashton Jeanty is special. He’s equally dangerous out of the backfield, and as a pass catcher. Jeanty’s numbers for the 2024 season are absurd. He led the nation in rushing with 2601 yards, with 29 touchdowns. That in itself is ridiculous especially considering he averaged 7 yards per carry. In 2023, the Boise St running back showed his receiving skills catching 43 balls for almost 600 yards to go along with his 1300 rushing yards. The Pittsburgh Steelers need dynamic offensive weapons, and Ashton Jeanty is probably the best one in this class. If he falls to 21, they have to take him, period.
4. Kenneth Grant DT – Michigan
We all saw how much attention Mike Tomlin and company paid to defensive lineman at the Senior Bowl. Interior defensive line has to be the favorite to be the position selected by the Steelers in the first round pending what happened in free agency. Cam Heyward isn’t getting any younger, and Larry Ogunjobi is a very real cap casualty candidate.
Kenneth Grant doesn’t get nearly the pub that his defensive line mate Mason Graham gets. Grant has significant upside however, and the size the Steelers love. At 6’3” and 330lbs, Grant is also extremely athletic. He shows flashes of being dominant, just not with ther consistency you’d like. If he ever found that, this would be a steal at 21.
3. Mathew Golden WR – Texas
If you’re a regular here at Steelers Sanctuary you know our feeling about the Steelers wide receiver room. Wide receiver is at the top of the needs list for this team going into this offseason. It’s not the greatest class for drafting this position, therefore drafting Golden at 21 is a bit of a reach. He most likely will not be around for the Steelers in round two so they will have a decision to make on the Texas speedster. Steelers 53 man roster prediction 1.0: The way too early version
After NFL combine, this narrative of Golden not being a first round talent could change. He is expected to run a sub 4.4 forty time, which could boost his stock. Golden is a good route runner with plus speed who averaged 17 yards per reception at Texas. The Steelers need an upgrade at receiver badly, making Golden hard to pass up on in the first round.
2. Emeka Egbuka WR – Ohio St.
Emeka Egbuka seems to have been made in a lab specifically for what Mike Tomlin wants in a wide receiver. High football IQ, savvy route runner, willing blocker, run after catch specialist, need I say more. Throw in the Big 10 pedigree, and I can see Tomlin being all in on this player. There are shinier toys at wide reciever in this draft, but no more of a solid foorball player than Egbuka. Pencil him in at 21 as of now, a blazing 40 time at the draft and you can change that to pen.
1. Walter Nolan DT – Ole Miss
We went through all the reasons why defensive tackle is likely to be the position to be drafted by the Steelers in round one earlier. Walter Nolan would be far and away the best option at that position if he lasts until the Steelers pick. Nolan has the desired size requirements the Steelers want in their interior lineman. He measured in at 6’3”, 293lbs, with nearly 34 inch arms at the Senior Bowl.
Nolan is a plus run defender with plenty of upside as a pass rusher. He followed up a great final year at Ole Miss with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. There’s some question of whether or not Nolan lasts all the way to 21. If he does, expect the Steelers to run the card to the podium on draft night. Walter Nolan should be the betting favorite to be the Steelers first round pick at this point of the process.