Steelers Face Tense Competition Within The AFC North To Land A Top Receiver In The 2024 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have clear needs that they will address during the 2024 NFL Draft, one of which being the wide receiver position. Other holes along the roster that should be filled are center, tackle, and cornerback - and there is still time to attack some of these issues ahead of the draft through free agency. Pittsburgh's first three picks will likely be a mixture of selections from those position groups, and with the wide receiver class being as deep as it is, it's likely the organization waits till their 51st overall selection to draft a receiver to pair with George Pickens. 

The Steelers already needed help at receiver going into the 2024 offseason, but that help became much more of a necessity when General Manager Omar Khan traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers and released veteran Allen Robinson II. Releasing Robinson II made sense, he wasn't productive enough to keep his contract on the books. Johnson had some issues within the locker room, and Pittsburgh got Donte Jackson back in return, which helps the cornerback position. 

The Steelers have made it clear they are looking at the receiver position with one of their top picks in the draft, and they seem to have their eyes set on Malachi Corley, a receiver out of Western Kentucky. They brought Corley in for a pre-draft visit on Monday, and two of Pittsburgh's biggest rivals immediately did the same.

Corley had visits with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens just days after making a stop in Pittsburgh. The Steelers should have the advantage over Baltimore and Cleveland on draft night, barring any trades. The Steelers hold the 20th and 51st overall picks, while the Browns' first selection isn't until the 54th pick, and the Ravens have picks 30 and 62. 

Corley is currently projected to be a second round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unless the Ravens reach for Corley with the 30th overall selection, the Steelers should have first dibs on Corley amongst the three teams interested from the AFC North. A lot can change before the draft, and on draft night. The Ravens could decide they don't want Pittsburgh to have a chance to draft Corley and trade up in front of them. The Browns could do the same, although they have Amari Cooper and recently traded for and extended Jerry Jeudy. They are clearly the team among the three that doesn't absolutely need a wide receiver. 

Steelers Will Have Plenty Of Receiver Options In The Second Round

The 2024 wide receiver class is deeper than ever. All of the top prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze will be off the board relatively quickly. The Steelers should spend their first round selection on a center or tackle, specifically a right tackle, but if the front office decides they want a receiver that early, Brian Thomas Jr. should be available. 

If the Steelers decide to use the 20th pick on an offensive lineman, like they should, they will have plenty of names to choose from in the second round, even if either the Ravens or Browns leapfrog them to pick Corley. Plenty of receivers who should be able to make a decent impact early on in their careers will be available at some point in the second round, such as Ricky Pearsall, Roman Wilson, Keon Coleman, and Xavier Legette. 

Pittsburgh has clearly been doing thorough research on Corley, and it seems like the front office would love to have him join Pickens in the receivers room. However, the Steelers' draft will be decided by their first round selection. They could very well go receiver or cornerback at 20th overall, instead of addressing either of the positions along the offensive line. 

What do you think about the Ravens and Browns throwing their hats in the ring for Corley? Comment below!

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