2024 NFL Mock Draft: Steelers select cornerback

With the 20th overall pick in the 2024 Bleeding Green Nation community mock draft, Pittsburgh Steelers GM Dr.MidnightGreen selects …

Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The State of the Steelers

Well, that escalated quickly! After a successful first year as Pittsburgh’s QB1 in 2022, Kenny Pickett lost his job to Mason Rudolph in 2023. Then, Pittsburgh acquired two franchise QB’s (Russell Wilson and Justin Fields) and ultimately flipped Pickett for peanuts to their cross-state rivals, our beloved Birds. It’s a bold new start for the men of steel, as they have broken free of their conservative ways of team building.

2023 Rankings

DVOA Offense: 15th

DVOA Defense: 6th

Courtesy of FTN Fantasy

As you can see, the Steelers have a relatively strong defensive base on which to build. Offensively, they have Wilson/Fields at QB, emerging star receiver George Pickens on the outside, Pete Freiermuth at tight end, and future hall of famer Quez Watkins in the slot.

Team Needs

Offensive Line

The Steelers will want to protect the newly acquired Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields. They desperately need a center, where if nothing changes they are slated to start Nate Herbig. Yes, that Nate Herbig. They also need help at offensive tackle. So, O-line is the odds-on favorite for the Steelers’ first round pick.

Wide Receiver

Quez Watkins is their slot guy. Enough said.

The Draft Setup

The Steelers will surely be looking for an offensive tackle or a center in the first, but the top four offensive lineman are all off the board in this community mock draft. Wide receiver is also tempting, especially since this year’s crop of pass-catchers is so deep. However, the top four wideouts are also gone when the Steelers go on the clock. The only position to completely rule out here is QB, since Pittsburgh already has two capable starters.

The Pick

CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

The Player

Measurables

Arnold’s measurables are nothing special. That may cause him to slide, which is just crazy. Ignore the combine numbers! This guy is a shutdown corner on tape. In the words of the great Fran Duffy, “the eye in the sky doesn’t lie.” Draft football players, not underwear Olympians.

Film Review

Turn on the tape, and you will see:

• Toughness: he competes hard right from the snap, throughout the down, and all the way to the whistle. This guy never gives up.
• He has great arrival timing when contesting a catch. Many times, it looks like a sure completion and Arnold will get his hand in the receiver’s breadbasket to break it up. Arnold is phenomenal when the ball is in the air, specializing in making plays late in the down by deflecting the pass or disrupting receiver’s hands.
• He has a wiry frame, standing just under 6 feet and 190 lbs.
• He loves to stick his nose into contact and is a willing tackler on RB outside runs and WR screens. He looks like a safety when making tackles, which is outstanding and rare for a CB1.
• Arnold is fast to the ball, closing quickly on passes over the middle. He is great at reaching in front of receivers on crossing routes.
• When tested deep, Arnold doesn’t panic. He holds his ground and does not get brushed aside when the receiver tries to separate while downfield.
• His intangibles are through the roof. This guy has Malcolm Jenkins-level leadership. You’ll really want to check out his interview at the combine and hear the message he has for his mom.
• His play between the lines also reminds one of Malcom Jenkins. Arnold is willing to do anything to help his team win and goes all out no matter what he is asked to do. This could be following a receiver deep, covering quick outbreaking routes to the sideline, working from the slot, blitzing the QB, stuffing wide receiver screens or making INT’s. He’s all over the field, similar to Jenkins.

Summary and Team Outlook

Terrion Arnold projects as an elite CB1 in the NFL. His tape is too good for the Steelers to pass up at 20. Playing in the SEC, he has thrived against the very best receivers in college football and possesses superb intangibles.

The Athletic’s Dane Bruegler has Arnold as the top cornerback prospect and the number 10 prospect overall in the draft. If this guy is sitting there at 20, it would be a pretty big surprise and an easy decision for Pittsburgh.

For what it’s worth, the Steelers took Terrion Arnold out to dinner following his Alabama pro day. Mike Tomlin was in the house that evening. So, there’s that.

The “Stillers” can fill needs at offensive line in subsequent rounds. This pick is all about reading the board for Steelers brass, and if he is available, Terrion Arnold will be the pick. Let’s hope the Eagles trade up ahead of Pittsburgh to grab this guy instead. We could use another Malcolm Jenkins-type!

GO BIRDS!

Shoutout to @Dr.Skoot on Behind The Steel Curtain for help researching this article.

2024 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Bears (Draftjunky): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
2) Commanders (surefooted): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
3) Patriots (niels.rosenquist): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
4) Cardinals (eaglenomics): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
5) Chargers (SeanEFootball): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
6) Giants (89Tremaine) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
7) Titans (Philly21): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
8) Falcons (Eagles_Blitz80): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
9) Bears (pheebthegoose): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
10) Jets (GreenGrampa): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
11) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
12) Broncos (PBARB1978): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
13) Raiders (iam4theBirdz): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
14) Saints (Fly Like An Eagle): Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
15) Colts (J. Wil): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
16) Seahawks (Phreezy E): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
17) Jaguars (dredscottroberts): WR Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
18) Bengals (grantspectations): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
19) Rams (Nolo0oo): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
20) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
21) Dolphins (Neil Dutton)
22) Eagles (ablesser88)
23) Vikings (RabidPanda13)
24) Cowboys (Elliptical Man)
25) Packers (LeFire)
26) Buccaneers (FlJoe)
27) Cardinals (green1us)
28) Bills (Leo Bedio)
29) Lions (MrOilman)
30) Ravens (LancGuy)
31) 49ers (SakPrescott)
32) Chiefs (Hoosinole)

---

Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2024 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.

1) Bears: QB Caleb Williams
2) Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels
3) Patriots: QB Drake Maye
4) Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
5) Chargers: WR Malik Nabers
6) Giants: WR Rome Odunze
7) Titans: OT Joe Alt
8) Falcons: EDGE Dallas Turner
9) Bears: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
10) Jets: TE Brock Bowers
11) Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy
12) Broncos: QB Bo Nix
13) Raiders: OT Taliese Fuaga
14) Saints: OT Troy Fautanu
15) Colts: CB Quinyon Mitchell
16) Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy
17) Jaguars: CB Terrion Arnold
18) Bengals: OT J.C. Latham
19) Rams: EDGE Jared Verse
20) Steelers