Steelers Could Absolutely Trade Up To Compensate For The Lack Of Depth In The 2024 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers are wrapping up their scouting reports and draft board with the 2024 NFL Draft being just around the corner. The Steelers have plenty of needs that they need to address, but they don't have enough assets to properly address all of them. The Steelers have been rumored as a candidate to trade down and acquire more draft capital, but that may not be the right play, especially with the lack of depth throughout the draft in most positions. 

Of course, the wide receiver and offensive tackle positions have been praised for being very deep, but that level of depth can only go so far. With pressing needs at multiple spots, the Steelers may end up passing on the high-end prospects with their picks. Of course, the Steelers can't just admit failure if they miss out on these options. They can still find a way to draft these middle-round gems if needed. 

In his weekly Q&A chat, Ray Fittipaldo was asked about the overall depth of the draft, since many players are staying in college an extra year due to NIL deals. He gave a very short, sweet answer that got straight to the point. 

"Yes and teams are aware of [the lack of talent]."

The Steelers do not have a seventh-round pick or a fifth-round pick, but they do have a pair of both third and sixth-round picks. Finding talent in the later rounds is already a challenge, and the lack of talent in the 2024 draft will make it even harder. The Steelers have had plenty of success in the past with these kinds of picks, but will they continue to try that method, or will their hand be forced?

Steelers' Most Likely Option With Day Three Picks

With this lack of talent, the Steelers might want to trade up in the earlier rounds. There are many high-end prospects that likely won't make it to the Steelers' picks in certain rounds, but if they do not think there will be any talent remaining in the last few rounds, they could try to strike a deal to move up and select their man. 

Zach Frazier's name has been tossed around as a player that the Steelers would want, but he may not be available for the Steelers at pick 51. If they want to draft him, they may need to package pick 51 with a combination of their fourth and sixth-round picks to grab him. If Frazier can be a key piece to the franchise, like many believe he can at the center position, it will be more than worth it. 

Of course, that mindset would apply to any other prospect that the Steelers are excited about. They could do multiple "small" trade-ups as well, where they only move up a few picks in the second or third round just to make sure that they get their desired player. It would be better to use one of those late-round picks to secure their man, as opposed to just hoping he falls to the Steelers -- then watching another team steal him from Pittsburgh.

No matter what the Steelers do, it is safe to say that they have a plan. Maybe they do like some of these projected later-round prospects, and they would rather keep those picks. Maybe the draft falls in their favor and they don't even have to trade up at all. All of these questions will be answered starting on Thursday, April 25th, when the draft officially begins.