Steelers' Sensational Rookie Class Should Be Considered A Huge Silver Lining Of The 2024 Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 season crumbled apart quickly at the end of the year. The group is riding a four-game losing streak into the playoffs, but has hopes to upset the Baltimore Ravens on the road. Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan have been under fire amidst the losing skid, but those two, along with Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl, did a great job building the roster through the 2024 NFL Draft. The Steelers would have been much worse off if it weren't for some key rookie additions.

The Steelers had a lot of holes on their roster going into the 2024 NFL Draft, and the organization did a great job filling a lot of those holes with high-quality players. The majority of Pittsburgh's 2024 draft class has struggled to stay on the field due to injury issues, but the three rookies that consistently played throughout their rookie year were added to the NFL's All-Rookie Team by The 33rd Team. 

The best first-year players for Pittsburgh in 2024 have been Zach Frazier, Payton Wilson, and Mason McCormick. Frazier was a sure-fire pick, as he was ranked as the top center by many analysts and the Steelers were able to select him in the second round. He was inserted into the starting lineup almost immediately after Nate Herbig suffered an injury. The rookie center started 15 games for the Steelers and allowed just one sack all season. He was also a force in the run game, and he has proven he has the ability to continue Pittsburgh's lineage of impressive play at the position.

There was even some debate about Frazier making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Some offensive line experts considered the rookie snubbed when he didn't make the initial roster. The two centers that did make the roster play for two of the best teams in the AFC, the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, so should one of them make Super Bowl LIX - it is likely Frazier will be the substitute. 

The Steelers have been trying to figure out their linebacker situation for years, and it seems as though the organization finally did it. The signing of Patrick Queen in free agency has helped the defense, as has the addition of Wilson. Wilson is always around the ball as he is fourth on the defense in total tackles, and he also had a crucial interception against the Ravens and scored a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.

McCormick was a bit of a surprise for Pittsburgh. The right guard was selected in the fourth round from the FCS level of college football, and jumping to the NFL is obviously a major change in talent levels. Pittsburgh's starting right guard to begin the season was James Daniels, but he went down with a torn Achilles in Week 4. McCormick was soon thrust into the starting role and has only given up one sack all season. Both McCormick and Frazier are considered long-term starters on the offensive line.

Steelers Awaiting More Help From 2024 Rookie Class

The interesting part about Pittsburgh's 2024 rookie class already being deemed a success is that their top selection, Troy Fautanu, has only been able to play in one game. He dealt with a knee injury during the preseason, but started Pittsburgh's Week 2 contest against the Denver Broncos. The rookie looked good in the game, but dislocated his kneecap during practice the following week which put him on Injured Reserve. He is expected to be healthy in 2025 and become a starter on the offensive line, assuming Dan Moore Jr. will not be brought back.

Undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop Jr. also impressed throughout his rookie season, as he recorded four interceptions on the year. Logan Lee, Roman Wilson, and Ryan Watts have also all dealt with injuries throughout their rookie year. Roman is the only player that has seen the field, but it was just for one game. All should be expected to make an impact in 2025, which means this draft class could get even better.

How do you view Pittsburgh's 2024 rookie class? Let us know in the comments below!

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