Steelers Would Be Beaming From Ear To Ear If Rumored Trade For 12th Pick Delivers Joe Alt

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently scheduled to pick 20th during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25th. Omar Khan hinted that he might be more likely to move up to get a player he wants in the draft, and on Tuesday, the rumor mill kicked into full gear about possible trade partners for the Steelers. One of the most prevalent teams that came up was the Denver Broncos. 

A couple of different rumors circulated throughout the day. On Tuesday afternoon, Tony Pauline from Sportskeeda released an article that the Broncos' pick was for sale and that the Steelers were in the mix as buyers. He also hinted that the aggressive move would lead to them drafting Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo, the number-one cornerback in the 2024 class on many expert draft boards. The news sent social media into a frenzy. 

Pauline broke the news about Mitchell being a potential target, but he was not the first to speculate on Tuesday that the Steelers would indeed complete a trade with the Broncos for the 12th pick. In John Breech's mock draft on CBS Sports, posted on Tuesday morning, he predicted that Pittsburgh would obtain the 12th pick on Thursday, but that they had a very different target in mind. 

The Steelers have been associated with virtually every offensive tackle in the draft except for one, Joe Alt from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It is not because Alt is not talented. He is the consensus choice by most draft experts as the best offensive tackle in the 2024 draft class. Breech's mock draft saw four quarterbacks drafted in the top five, and three wide receivers joined them after he projected the Tennessee Titans to trade the seventh pick to the Indianapolis Colts.

"SURPRISE! The Colts need some receiving help, and they get that in a major way by making a trade to land [Rome] Odunze," Breech wrote. "To make the deal happen, Indy sends the 15th, 46th, and 234th overall picks to Tennessee."

At pick number seven, the Titans have been the team most commonly associated with Alt during the mock draft season. The CBS Sports writer believes that if Alt falls past the seventh pick, the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears will pick edge rushers, and the New York Jets will select Brock Bowers to maximize what little time Aaron Rodgers has left in the NFL.

The final hurdle is the Los Angeles Chargers, but he predicts that Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Terrion Arnold will be their pick. Breech thinks that the unfolding events will prompt Khan and Mike Tomlin to act. The Steelers traded to move up with Denver once before, and it netted them Devin Bush Jr., but despite the history, Pittsburgh pulls the trigger and has the choice between Mitchell and Alt. 

"After watching Alt tumble down the draft board, the Steelers decide to make a move for the Notre Dame tackle," Breech opines. "The addition of Alt will help ensure that Russell Wilson doesn't spend his first season in Pittsburgh running for his life. To make this trade happen, the Steelers send the 20th and 51st overall picks to Denver."

It would be a steep price, but Khan would be getting the best tackle in the class for it. Alt started 38 games for the Fighting Irish at left tackle and was a First Team All-American selection in 2022 and 2023. His father, John Alt, was a former first-round draft pick and two-time Pro Bowl tackle during a 13-year career spent entirely with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Alt's NFL family pedigree is a trait that the Steelers value, and if both he and Mitchell are available, it could be the deciding factor between two superb players. Alt and Mitchell are both high-character guys, but the former Notre Dame captain could also emerge as a potential future leader on a very young offense that might desperately need him in 2025. 

Steelers' Options To Select A Left Tackle Are Open Thanks To Broderick Jones' Versatility

The only hang up in the plan is that drafting Alt means that Broderick Jones stays on the right side. Jones has been reportedly preparing at both positions this offseason. The second-year tackle showed he could play the position in 2023, and if he continues to improve, the Steelers will have the best-left tackle in the 2024 class to pair with him to protect Russell Wilson on opening day and finally close the book on Dan Moore Jr.