POD Community Mock: With the 20th pick, the Steelers select…

With the 20th pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…

The Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft chugs along, as we get closer and closer to the Detroit Lions ’ pick at 29. We’ve officially entered the 20s and it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers on the clock.

The Steelers went through a major change at quarterback, adding Russell Wilson and subsequently trading Kenny Pickett. But their issues go way beyond the man behind center, as they have seemed to fallen further and further behind the stacked AFC, despite somehow making the postseason last year.

Tasked with recapturing the high franchise standard of the Steelers is commenter Piotr S, who will be Pittsburgh’s acting general manager in this mock draft.

If you’re wondering who was picked in the previous 19 selections in this mock draft, head to our 2024 POD Community Mock Tracker.

With the 20th pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Amarius Mims, offensive tackle out of Georgia.

Here’s Piotr S with the explanation:

“The Steelers are in an uncomfortable middle ground moving forward as a franchise. Last year their defense dragged their anemic offense to the playoffs, and most of their defensive core returns. Who won’t be returning is Kenny Picket and Matt Canada as offensive coordinator, as Pittsburg will be rolling out a combo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields playing under ex-Falcons coach Arthur Smith as OC.

“The hard truth is that the Steelers face that it’s likely that neither Wilson because of age, nor Fields because of talent, will ever be a true franchise option moving forward. Smith’s offense also has heavily prioritized throwing over the middle of the field, something both quarterbacks struggle at. Wilson and Fields were third-to-last and dead last in time to throw last year in the NFL respectively, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, a nod to their need to see instead of anticipate. The Steelers also traded away their top receiving targets in Diontae Johnson this offseason to the Panthers in a “there must be more than what we know” trade that will make life harder for either quarterback.

“With all of this stated, the Steelers are left with a proven defense and a mystery box on offense. What would have been ideal would have been that the Steelers would be in range of the top four quarterbacks, but they aren’t and the price would have been too high. The next best thing would be for the Steelers to find a cornerstone on offense to help either of these two quarterbacks, or whomever takes the starting spot in 2025. At 20, that’s hard to do, so my prediction is that they gamble big, on a very, very big man.

“At 6-foot-8, an easy 340 lbs, over 36-inch arms, and oozing athleticism, players built like Amarius Mims don’t come around often. While he lacks production, the limited tape and measurables he does have are to drool over. The NFL is still a big man’s game, and in Mims, the Steelers can replace their below average left tackle, Dan Moore Jr. Placing him at either right or left tackle, the Steelers can have a young pair of Georgia Bulldog bookends in Mims and Broderick Jones. If both of them achieve their potential, they can pave the way for the next 12-15 years. As the saying goes, build the trenches and good things tend to happen.

“And also, he once did this:

”…which is just silly.”