In the last five years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made two upward trades in the initial round of the NFL draft. However, according to the recent NFL mock draft by CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, he foresees a different scenario for the Steelers, one that involves them making a first-round trade of a type they haven’t undertaken in over twenty years.
In his projection on April 4th, Edwards anticipates the Steelers swapping their No. 20 overall pick for the No. 27 spot in the first round. In this simulated draft scenario, at No. 27, the Steelers opt for Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey.
Edwards acknowledges that Steelers fans might not favor this decision to trade away the chance to select one of the reputed top interior offensive linemen. Nevertheless, by trading down, the Steelers still address a position of need while gaining additional draft assets.
During the 2023 season, McConkey showcased his skills with 30 catches for 478 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns in nine games. Across his NFL career, he accumulated 119 receptions, 1,687 receiving yards, and 14 scores.
For the Steelers, engaging in a trade-back strategy in the first round is a rarity. Their last instance of trading back in the first round dates back to 2001 when they moved from No. 16 to No. 19. This trade proved fruitful as they selected Casey Hampton, a 5-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, with the later pick.
How WR Ladd McConkey Could Fit With the Steelers
The selection of McConkey by the Steelers at No. 27 overall could be seen as surprising for reasons beyond Pittsburgh’s infrequent trade-back history.
Notably, major draft analysts from ESPN, Pro Football Focus, and Bleacher Report have not ranked McConkey among the top 30 prospects in the 2024 draft class. Even Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, who included McConkey on his latest 2024 draft big board, positioned him at No. 34 overall and sixth among wide receivers.
Jeremiah’s assessment of McConkey highlights his attributes as a slightly smaller receiver with exceptional speed, agility, and refined skills in route running. While he draws comparisons to former Seahawks standout Doug Baldwin in terms of route running and instincts, it’s worth noting that Baldwin’s undrafted status doesn’t precisely align with McConkey’s potential as a first-round pick.
Despite being undrafted, Baldwin had a commendable career with the Seattle Seahawks, boasting a couple of 1,000-yard receiving seasons and earning Pro Bowl honors in 2016 and 2017. Throughout his eight-year tenure, Baldwin tallied 493 receptions, 6,563 receiving yards, and 49 touchdowns.
Nevertheless, selecting McConkey could address a pressing need for the Steelers, who currently lack wide receivers with significant production, aside from George Pickens, who was McConkey’s teammate at Georgia from 2020-21. With the absence of established starting wideouts on their roster, McConkey might have the opportunity to make an immediate impact in Pittsburgh.
Could the Steelers Trade Back in the First Round?
During Kevin Colbert’s 22-year tenure as the Steelers’ general manager, he executed a trade-back strategy in the first round only once. However, in the inaugural draft under new general manager Omar Khan, the Steelers opted to move up the draft board in the first round rather than trading back, securing offensive tackle Broderick Jones.
Many mock drafts have speculated that the Steelers might engage in another trade-up scenario this year. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic asserted on April 2nd that a trade-up in the first or second round seems more plausible for the Steelers than trading down. Kaboly suggested that moving up in the second round to acquire Zach Frazier could be a viable option for the team.
Kaboly expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a trade-down strategy, noting that it doesn’t align with Khan’s tendencies. He proposed scenarios where the Steelers target Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims at pick 20 and potentially move up to around pick 45 to secure Frazier. However, he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the draft.
Even Josh Edwards conceded that trading down would be a difficult decision given the availability of offensive line prospects who could address the Steelers’ needs at center and tackle with the No. 20 overall pick. Nonetheless, a trade-back approach would enable the Steelers to accumulate additional draft capital.
While Edwards didn’t specify the exact compensation Pittsburgh could receive from the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 20 pick, Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot suggested it could involve Arizona’s 2024 third and fifth-round selections in addition to the No. 27 overall pick.
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