The Pittsburgh Steelers' late-season collapse was an indictment on the entire organization. Head coach Mike Tomlin's staff struggled down the stretch, and while he's earned the right to endure these underwhelming seasons, every leash is only so long.
Of course, it's hard to hold 2024 against him without adjusting for his situation under center. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields largely exceeded expectations, proving Tomlin right. But few had any illusions of either passer hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. The supporting cast also fell flat, exposing the toll of injuries and also weaknesses at receiver and across the defense.
Addressing these needs while inching closer to a real solution at quarterback is fundamental requirement for Pittsburgh's offseason. For that, the front office will turn to the NFL Draft.
The Steelers pick a bold quarterback in this two-round mock draft as they look to redirect their current trajectory.
Round 1, Pick 21: Michigan Defensive Tackle Kenneth Grant
It's hard to win games in January without being able to run the ball and stifle opposing ground games. Pittsburgh did little of either in 2024, and when the Baltimore Ravens are threatening to win the division every year, that becomes a major cause of concern.
The Steelers were merely average against the run by expected points added per rush and success rate. Grant and his colossal frame promise to fix that.
At 6-foot-3, 340 pounds, Grant demands double teams but also exceeds every reasonable expectation for his athleticism. He's quick off the snap, has good lateral agility, and has shown a knack for chasing down ball carriers other nose tackles couldn't dream of catching.
The key to Grant's profile, though, is his pass-rushing upside. Those athletic traits are real, but he's turned them into only 6.5 sacks over the last two seasons. If he can further develop as a pass rusher like New York Giants star Dexter Lawrence did, he too can emerge as a true every-down threat, instead of a key role player on the defensive front.
Round 2, Pick 52: Mississippi Quarterback Jaxson Dart
Pittsburgh is undeniably in quarterback purgatory. Picking 21st in a two-quarterback class, those dreams have long gone out the window, sacrificed by the Steelers' willingness to teeter around .500 every season. But the free agent class isn't all that exciting, either.
They'll bring a veteran in, even if it means bringing one of Wilson or Fields back. That shouldn't stop them from rolling the dice in Round 2. The hit rates aren't high but they aren't cataclysmic, and if a prospective passer is even an average starter, that's a return on investment.
Dart can be a low-stakes chance at a franchise quarterback given his aggressive nature in tight windows and the arm talent to pull it off more often than not. There are concerns woven into his profile, partly due to the simple offense he ran, but with a strong pre-draft circuit Dart can find himself with more fans.
He's not a particularly safe bet, but safe bets have landed Pittsburgh in the middle of the AFC. For better or worse, Dart can take the Steelers somewhere else.
