STEELERS FIND A SURPRISING STEAL AT PICK 20 WITHOUT HAVING TO TRADE UP IN NEWEST ESPN MOCK DRAFT
The Pittsburgh Steelers enjoyed eight dynamic seasons with Joey Porter Sr. at linebacker, so when they got the chance to draft his son, they made sure to jump at the opportunity. The Steelers' legacy pick was their second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, bringing Joey Porter Jr. to the same team his father won Super Bowl XL with. Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Steelers could look to bring in another shutdown corner to pair with Porter Jr. on defense.
The 2024 draft class is very top-heavy for cornerbacks, giving the Steelers hope that they can lock down both sides of the field for the foreseeable future early on in the weekend's festivities. Matt Miller of ESPN+ put out his first-round mock draft for 2024 on Wednesday, and he sees the first day resulting in the Steelers getting quite a steal with another excellent defensive back.
"Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo. Pittsburgh has been suggested as a potential trade-back candidate, but I think the team instead drafts either a corner or right tackle at No. 20. Cornerback is too tempting to pass up with Mitchell falling here in this scenario. He has 4.33 speed and excellent ball skills, breaking up 32 passes and picking off six over the past two seasons. He's a potential shutdown cornerback in the NFL, and the talent in this position group falls off sharply after the first round. The Steelers would have to capitalize on this opportunity."
Quinyon Mitchell is considered one of, if not the top cornerback prospect in the 2024 class. Miller has the Steelers taking Mitchell as the second cornerback off the board in the draft, with the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting former Alabama defender Terrion Arnold with the 17th pick. Mitchell has slowly risen on draft boards throughout the evaluation process, resulting in him being seen as a truly elite prospect ahead of draft night.
Mitchell's statistics won't leap off the page, with the cornerback tallying six interceptions, one forced fumble, one sack, and under 100 solo tackles in his four collegiate seasons with Toledo. However, Mitchell is the all-time leader at Toledo for pass breakups (46) and was relied upon by the team to lock down his side of the field. While the Steelers certainly appreciate the ability to take the ball away, they also respect when a player can be trusted on an island, and that could be Mitchell.
The Steelers are feeling good as they head into the 2024 NFL Draft, which is a testament to the upgrades the roster has gotten throughout the offseason. Cornerback is certainly high on Pittsburgh's priority list, but it all comes down to who is on the board when their pick comes around. Mitchell would be an exciting talent to pair up with Porter Jr. for the future, especially after the rookie season Porter Jr. put together. If Mitchell is who they determine fits their franchise the best, then he will become a Steelers defender when they are on the clock.
Steelers Would Pass Up Options For Mitchell
Miller has the Steelers putting a premium on Mitchell, and while they could very well see it that way, they would be passing on quite a few opportunities. Despite releasing Mason Cole, Miller's mock draft has Pittsburgh passing on center completely, even though Jackson Powers-Johnson and Graham Barton were both available. They also let Amarius Mims and Tyler Guyton slip by, with Mims going to the Dallas Cowboys with the 24th pick in the first round.
Mitchell was the cornerback that Miller mocked to the Steelers, but Nate Wiggins and Cooper DeJean were both options still on the board as well. Having the trio of Mitchell, Wiggins, and DeJean all still there for the taking would be a dream scenario for Pittsburgh, regardless of who they determine is the best for their situation. Also, with the Diontae Johnson trade creating a noticeable space in the receivers' room, Adonai Mitchell out of Texas was another prospect Miller had the Steelers pass on.
All it takes on draft night is for one thing to go sideways, and every draft board is suddenly thrown into chaos. Mitchell could very well be the best cornerback prospect the Steelers have available to them, but until that moment arrives, not even Pittsburgh knows for sure. With a solid 2024 offseason, a rebuilt quarterback position group, and a ton of hope, the 2024 NFL Draft should be more exciting than stressful for Steelers fans this time around.
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