A few weeks ago, I put out my top 24 picks for the Steelers in this draft -- 24 players they would take with the 24th pick available.
It's how Kevin Colbert draws up his draft board each year. Wherever the Steelers are picking in the first round, he and his staff along with the coaching staff will come up with a list of players the team would be more than happy to select at that spot.
If the Steelers are picking 15th, they'll have 15 players. If they're 24th, as they are this year, that list will include 24 players.
That will help decide if the team moves up in the draft, stays put or trades back. If one of the players in their top 10 starts to fall, the Steelers might be tempted to move up and get him. If it appears they'll have players off their list to pick from, they'll stay put. If there are several of those players falling to that spot, they could trade back -- so long as they're still guaranteed to get a player off their list.
This year, the list is pretty simple. You can exclude the edge rushers -- despite the national media prognosticators mocking an edge rusher to the team of late. After taking Alex Highsmith in the third round last year, the Steelers aren't likely to take another edge rusher early.
The Steelers can fill that need later in the draft, probably in the fourth round or later.
You also can exclude some other positions, such as wide receiver -- unless the value is just too good to pass up. That's why players such as Ja'Marr Chase make the list, even though there's little chance to slide to the Steelers' selection.
There are some late risers here, players who are gaining steam by opening eyes with outstanding pro days. I'm not putting as much stock in 40 times as usual, but other athletic trails -- broad jumps and vertical leaps -- can't be fudged. Nor can strength.
But the tape had better match the athletic traits.
Who will be on the Steelers' Day 1 draft radar? This list is a pretty good place to start:
1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
3. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
4. Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
5. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
6. Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
7. Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
8. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
9. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
10. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
11. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
12. Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
13. Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina
14. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
15. Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
16. Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
17. Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State
18. Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
19. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
20. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
21. Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
22. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
23. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
24. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
So, there it is. Discuss away, but there's a very good chance the Steelers' top pick will be from among these 24 players.