GOOD NEWS: Steelers have received a proposal for $45.6 million for a massive ‘Impactful Bookend’ overtime.
Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers moved up three spots to draft offensive tackle Broderick Jones. Josh Edwards of CBS Sports predicted that the Steelers would do the same thing again this spring when selecting Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga.
Edwards projected that the Steelers will move up four spots to acquire the No. 16 overall pick from the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers then selected Fuaga as the 16th overall pick in Edward’s NFL mock draft, which was released on February 15
“Pittsburgh can ill afford to wait until its first pick to see if an offensive tackle is still available, especially with Cincinnati and Los Angeles ahead of Mike Tomlin’s team,” Edwards said in a statement. “The Steelers trade up to take Taliese Fuaga, who will be an impactful bookend opposite Broderick Jones.
Edwards did not clarify what the Steelers would deliver to Seattle in the draft selection swap. However, previous year, the Steelers traded their No. 17 and No. 120 overall picks to the New England Patriots to move up to No. 14.
It would most likely take a similar proposal to move from 20 to 16 this year.
Fuaga, who stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 334 pounds, is a gigantic offensive lineman who might potentially team with Jones. Edwards graded Fuaga as the fourth-best tackle prospect and 13th overall in the 2024 class.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a reputation for picking the finest available candidate in the NFL draft’s first round.
However, in recent years, the organisation has been far more aggressive about moving up to meet needs.
Since 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers have moved up in the first round twice. In addition to trading up for Jones, Pittsburgh jumped from 20th to 10th overall to choose linebacker Devin Bush in 2018.
Then, in 2019, the Steelers traded their whole first-round pick for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Over the last half-decade, the Steelers have only made a selection in the first round twice. It would not be shocking if the Steelers were aggressive again in 2024.
If they are, they are most likely looking for an offensive tackle.
The Oregon State tackle could be an ideal fit for the Steelers. With Jones at the other tackle position, picking Fuaga might provide Pittsburgh with two starter tackles for the next decade.
Fuaga spent the last two seasons playing right tackle at Oregon State. As a result, choosing him would indicate that the Steelers want to move Jones back to left tackle.
During his debut season, Jones started 10 of 11 games as right tackle. At Georgia, however, he played left tackle, his natural position.
Dan Moore Jr. would be relegated to the bench with Fuaga’s arrival. Moore has started 49 games at left tackle for the Steelers in the last three seasons. He has been serviceable, but far from Moore has one year remaining on his rookie deal.
According to Pro Football Focus, Fuaga is the third-best available offensive lineman in the 2024 class. Like Edwards, the ESPN draft consensus placed Fuaga fourth in his positioN
Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network is a huge supporter of Fuaga. Cummings believes that Fuaga may finish the draft process as the best tackle prospect in the class.