Steelers assistant on Senior Bowl staff hints at upcoming draft targets
The road to the 2024 NFL Draft is underway and this offseason present the usual speculation on team needs and which players will be selected in which spots.
While a number of mock drafts are out there already, and are entertaining, one only has to look at the finer details of how teams are sending scouts and personnel to get a closer look at certain prospects.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl is one of those stops, often showcasing top-level and breakthrough talent with those players who have completed their college eligibility.
This year the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a close and personal look, as Assistant Offensive Line coach Isaac Williams is on the American Team staff along with Chris Watt from the Colts. Both will work with these players through the game played on February 3rd.
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While some of college football’s elite talent, such as QB Caleb Williams or WR Marvin Harrison Jr., will forego playing in the event, the game still attracts other top-tier players including some who have an opportunity to rise up the draft boards against their peers.
With Williams on one side of the field, the Steelers will have an advantage of someone working intimately with these individuals in a way others in the draft process won’t. This should be a feather in the cap of GM Omar Khan as he looks for ways to improve the Steelers offensive line unit, which is still in need of a few upgrades.
One of those upgrades came by the way of trading up to the 14th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to select Georgia OT Broderick Jones. Jones, projected as a left tackle, ended up replacing Chukwuma Okorafor on the right side this season. Coach Mike Tomlin hinted that Jones may or may not move back to the left in 2024. However, anyone with a set of eyes on the game knows that current left tackle Dan Moore Jr. is on thin ice after being one of the lowest-graded tackles in the league.
Another area the Steelers could be looking to move on is the center position. After failing with the draft selection of Kendrick Green (who was traded to the Texans last offseason) and inconsistent play from veteran Mason Cole (who was signed two seasons ago) there’s speculation of a new center being a high priority in the Steel City. The Steelers will save $4.7 million on this year’s cap if the two part ways.
2022 offseason acquisition G James Daniels isn’t safe either, accounting for an $8.2 million cap savings if the team moves on from him as well. Despite the relief, it would be difficult to replace three starting linemen all at once, unless the coaching staff is confident Nate Herbig can step in. Based on observations in 2023, that isn’t likely, and Herbig could also be a cap casualty with a savings of $4 million. (And being paid just slightly less than Cole, who is a starter.)
Other than Jones, one other spot is secure on the Steelers offensive line and that’s starting left guard Isaac Seumalo. Seumalo, who appeared in all 17 games this season, did not give up a single sack and was as advertised as the most-prized guard on the free agent market.
Still, if Khan were to do minimal shuffling with his o-line deck, the team may look for other depth options. Williams’ boots on the ground approach will help Pittsburgh identify prospects who could fall into later rounds or go undrafted; those players could then develop deep on the depth chart or on the practice squad. This method worked well for the Steelers in previous years, with several undrafted players being unheralded starters such as Alejandro Villanueva, Matt Feiler, and Ramon Foster.
Regardless, this list is one to watch as the franchise moves through the offseason process. If the staff has a top 30 interview or pro day visit with one of the names listed above, you can make an educated guess that the player will be a definite target come draft time.
