The Steelers were more active in the first week of free agency than they have been at any other time in their history, signing five players from the outside and also bringing back a number of their own players.
But with the smoke clearing from that early action, the Steelers should have in the neighborhood of $12.5 million in remaining salary cap space. Remember that their rookie draft class will eat up roughly $5.5 million of that room, while the team likes to carry enough cap space into the season to make 10 signings, meaning the Steelers will want around $5 million available when that happens.
So that whittles that cap space away, pretty quickly, meaning the team will likely hold pat for a while -- unless a bargain comes along. Then, it would have to create additional cap space via restructures.
That also means the Steelers will be turning their attention to the draft to fill their remaining holes -- mostly at wide receiver and strong safety, though cheap veteran options remain available there, as well.
This would complete the overhaul of the Steelers' roster -- at least for this year.
With that in mind, here's a look at how the draft, which will be held April 28-30, could look when it kicks off:
First Round
1. Jaguars -- Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
2. Lions -- Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
3. Texans -- Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
4. Jets -- Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
5. Giants -- Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina St.
6. Panthers -- Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi
7. Giants -- Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
8. Falcons -- Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia
9. Seahawks -- Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
10. Jets -- Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
11. Commanders -- Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
12. Vikings -- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
13. Texans -- Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida State
14. Ravens -- George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
15. Eagles -- Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
16 . Eagles -- Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
17. Chargers -- Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
18. Saints -- Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
19. Eagles -- Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota
20. Steelers -- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
21. Patriots -- Kair Elam, CB, Florida
22. Packers -- Drake London, WR, USC
23. Cardinals -- Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
24. Cowboys -- Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
25. Bills -- Cameron Thomas, Edge, San Diego State
26. Titans -- Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
27. Buccaneers -- Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
28. Packers -- Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
29. Dolphins -- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
30. Chiefs -- Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
31. Bengals -- Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
32. Lions -- Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Analysis: The Steelers could try to wait until Round 2 to address their wide receiver need. But with Wilson available, he's too good to pass up. It would be interesting to see what they would do if Williams were available. He would be the top receiver in this class if healthy. But he's coming off a torn ACL suffered in the National Championship game and might not be ready to play until around November. There really wasn't anyone else I looked at there for the Steelers with Wilson available. Note that Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo falls out of the first round following his pro day workout injury.
Other Steelers Picks
Round 2, Pick 52: Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut -- Honestly, I was shocked but pleasantly surprised he was still available. Jones is the second-best nose tackle prospect in this draft. He plays with a good motor and his hands are very heavy. When he strikes an offensive lineman, they feel it. It is a jolt. There also wasn't a safety I wanted to take here.
Round 3, Pick 84: Nick Cross, S, Maryland -- Cross is intriguing. At 6-0, 212 pounds, he's a good-sized player. But he also ran a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 37-inch vertical jump. He had 66 tackles, 3 sacks and 3 interceptions last season at Maryland playing all over the defense. They can still sign a cheap veteran -- Ronnie Harrison? -- as a placeholder until Cross is ready to play.
Round 4, Pick 138: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati -- The "other" cornerback at Cincinnati, Bryant won the Thorpe Award last season as college football's top corner. He's got good size and plays with good instincts. He doesn't have the top-end speed of some of the corners taken ahead of him, but that's fine. He is a developmental corner with size and ball skills (9 career interceptions). Those are valuable.
Round 6, Pick 208: Tyler Vrabel, OT, Boston College -- Developmental tackles are always a good addition. And Vrabel qualifies as that. The son of former Steeler and current Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, he also has NFL bloodlines. He's good enough in the run game that if he doesn't work out at tackle, he can kick inside to guard.
Round 7, Pick 225: Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech -- At 6-2, 209 pounds, Ezukanma is a big-bodied receiver who might go higher in this draft had he not broken his arm in last year's spring practices. He still had 48 receptions for 706 yards and four touchdowns last season. He also averaged 13.8 yards on 10 rushing attempts, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Round 7, Pick 241: Connor Heyward, FB, Michigan State -- I'm going to continue to pick Heyward in the seventh round and speak it into existence. At best, he makes the roster as a special teams player. At worst, he winds up on the practice squad as a replacement for Derek Watt in 2023 and pushes Trey Edmunds off the roster.
