After three days in their war room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision makers emerged Saturday night after selecting seven players who could help shape the 2024 team.
The Steelers fortified their offensive line and added key pieces on offense and defense. Trib beat writer Joe Rutter sums up the Steelers’ draft, which was heavy on age and experience.
Here’s a recap of who the Steelers selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with commentary from TribLive’s Tim Benz and Mark Madden.
Plus, check out where players from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia are headed.
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Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu is pictured during an NCAA football game against Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Seattle. Washington won 45-20.
Steelers
Day 1
Steelers take offensive tackle for 2nd straight draft, selecting Washington’s Troy Fautanu
After ignoring tackle in the first round of the NFL Draft for more than two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers lately have made it a trendy position on their board.
Long travel day doesn’t dampen Troy Fautanu’s enthusiasm about being drafted by Steelers
Forgive Fautanu if the lack of sleep left him struggling to digest everything that had transpired since he awakened Thursday morning.
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West Virginia’s Zach Frazier (54) high-fives fans after an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 42-21.
Day 2
Steelers get their center, draft WVU’s Zach Frazier in 2nd round
A day after taking a tackle with their first-round pick, the Steelers made it 2-for-2 in adding offensive linemen when they selected West Virginia center Zach Frazier in Round 2 on Friday evening.
Unlike draft night cell reception, Zach Frazier’s thoughts on joining Steelers are loud, clear
After hearing Zach Frazier’s draft night story, a local telecom company might want to sign him to an endorsement deal.
Steelers nab WR Roman Wilson with 3rd-round pick
In Michigan’s run to the national championship, Wilson started 15 games and led the Wolverines with 48 catches and totaled 789 receiving yards.
Steelers draft Bednarik Award winner as nation’s best defensive player, ILB Payton Wilson
The Steelers can make a reasonable claim they took the best defensive player in the draft.
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Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (1) celebrates a first-down reception against Purdue in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
Day 3
Steelers 4th-round pick Mason McCormick ready to compete for starting spot at guard
McCormick’s athleticism was on display at the NFL Combine where he had some of the top testing numbers among all offensive linemen.
Steelers take Iowa defensive tackle Logan Lee with the 2nd pick of the 6th round
“We got another piece of the puzzle,” Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said soon after Lee was picked Saturday. “I think Logan Lee brings a lot of good things to the table. He’s got size, got length, and can do a lot of different things. It think he fits the Steelers’ mold.”
Steelers select Texas defensive back Ryan Watts with 2nd 6th-round pick
With the No. 195 overall selection, the Steelers took Ryan Watts, who spent the past two seasons at Texas after playing at Ohio State for his first two college seasons.
Steelers sign WVU CB Beanie Bishop, Georgia RB Daijun Edwards, other undrafted free agents
After declining to take a projected slot/nickel cornerback with any of their seven draft picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed one of the players they were thought to have been interested in as an undrafted free agent.
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Texas defensive back Ryan Watts runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis.
Commentary
Tim Benz: Plenty to like about Steelers’ 1st pick, but there’s 1 way they can make us love it
Columnist Tim Benz is not at all skeptical of Troy Fautanu’s ability to play tackle in the NFL, but is skeptical that the Steelers will insert him into the lineup fast enough.
Mark Madden: Steelers got their guy in the 1st round but are still stuck in mushy middle
Franchise-changing pick? Not this year and not likely. The Steelers need a four- or five-win season if they want to draft that kind of player.
Tim Benz: Playing young linemen well worth the risk for Steelers
The Steelers’ first two picks went exactly how the club should’ve approached things based on how the draft board shook out during the first 51 picks, and exactly how their fans were pleading it would go.
Tim Benz: Our annual ‘What the Steelers didn’t get in the draft’ recap
Pittsburgh Steelers fans are basking in the sunset of a draft that is largely deserving of applause — and here comes columnist Tim Benz with a yearly rain cloud of discontent.
Where they’re headed
Pitt
There were three Panthers who were drafted by NFL teams. Check out Jerry DiPaola’s recaps below.
OL Matt Goncalves, Colts, third round (79th overall)
WR Bub Means, Saints, fifth round (170th overall)
DB M.J. Devonshire, Raiders, seventh round (229th overall)
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Pitt lineman Matt Goncalves works out at Pitt Pro Day on Wednesday, Mar. 27, 2024, on the South Side.
Penn State
Eight Nittany Lions had their names called over the three days of the NFL Draft.
OT Olu Fashanu, Jets, first round (11th overall)
DE Chop Robinson, Dolphins, first round (21st overall)
OT Caedan Wallace, Patriots, third round (68th overall)
DE Adisa Isaac, Ravens, third round (93rd overall)
TE Theo Johnson, Giants, fourth round (107th overall)
OL Hunter Nourzad, Chiefs, fifth round (159th overall)
DB Daequan Hardy, Bills, sixth round (219th overall)
DB Kalen King, Packers, seventh round (255th overall)
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Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac runs a drill during the NCAA college football team’s NFL Pro Day Friday, March 15, 2024, in State College, Pa.
West Virginia
The Mountaineers had one player drafted, and he had a short trip to Pittsburgh.
