Pittsburgh Steelers Not Expected to Trade Up in the Draft

The NFL Draft is upon us. The rumors are flying ahead of tonight’s first round. Who will trade up? Who will trade down? Which prospects will go where? Well, as far as Pittsburgh is concerned, they are not expected to make a move up from No. 24. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said in a press conference this week that the franchise “values those eight picks”, and it is “doubtful” that they make a trade to get into the top half of the first round.

This makes a lot of sense. Pittsburgh doesn’t have a ton of needs that will go in the top half of the first round. Big Ben is still their quarterback, they have plenty of wide receiver talent, and their secondary has plenty of talent. Their biggest needs come at the offensive line, linebacker, and running back; all of these positions will have plenty of options when Pittsburgh’s pick comes around.

So, what will Pittsburgh do at No. 24? There has been plenty off buzz around picking a running back, whether that be Najae Harris or Travis Etienne, and this writer (take my opinions however you will) thinks that this buzz is well founded. It’s a position of desperate need for that offense, and these two are pretty much the consensus top two in the draft class.

Of course, there will always be those that think a first round running back is a mistake. It’s certainly possible in some situations for it to be a mistake. However, when the position is as glaring an issue as it is for Pittsburgh, they haven’t addressed it in free agency, and they can get one of the top players of the class late in the first round, why not take the shot? Either Harris or Etienne will be a week one starter for the Steelers; something that likely cannot be said of other players they could pick. If the need is there, and a solution stares you in the face, you take it.