In his most recent NFL mock draft, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports predicted that the Pittsburgh Steelers would select Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey by trading down.

Twice in the previous five years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded up in the first round of the NFL draft. However, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports predicted in his most recent NFL mock draft that the Steelers will make a different kind of first-round trade—one that they haven’t made in more than 20 years.

Edwards projected on April 4 that the Steelers would move back from their initial pick of No. 20 overall to No. 27. Then, the Steelers selected Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey at pick No. 27 in the mock draft.

Though they still fill a need and add draft resources in the process, Edwards noted, “Steelers fans will probably not be fans of the team’s decision to trade out of the opportunity to select one of the perceived top interior offensive linemen.”

In nine games in 2023, McConkey had 30 catches for 478 receiving yards and two touchdowns. At the end of his NFL career, he had 14 touchdowns, 1,687 receiving yards, and 119 receptions.

However, it would be extremely unusual for the Steelers to trade back in the first round in order to obtain more draft money.They haven’t traded back in the opening round since 2001.

In that draft, the Steelers moved from No. 16 to No. 19. The trade worked successfully, as with the later pick, Pittsburgh selected 5-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Casey Hampton.

How WR Ladd McConkey Could Fit With the Steelers

It’s possible that the Steelers’ selection of McConkey at No. 27 overall is surprising for reasons other than Pittsburgh’s unusual trade back history.

ESPN, Pro Football Focus, and Bleacher Report’s draft experts do not place McConkey among the top 30 prospects in the 2024 draft class. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, who recently released his 2024 draft big board with McConkey ranked sixth at wide receiver and 34th overall, doesn’t think so either.

According to Jeremiah, McConkey is a slightly undersized receiver with outstanding quickness, speed, and polish. “In general, McConkey lacks the physicality of former Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, but their route running and instincts are very similar, in my opinion.

“I could see McConkey having a similar career.”

While Doug Baldwin had a solid career with the Seattle Seahawks, he was an undrafted free agent. So, that’s not exactly a great player comparison for the potential first-round pick.

Throughout his career, Baldwin recorded two seasons with 1,000 yards receiving. In 2016 and 2017, he was selected to the Pro Bowl as well. With 493 catches, 6,563 receiving yards, and 49 touchdowns at the end of his eight-year career.

But focusing on McConkey would give the Steelers what they needed. There is presently only one wide receiver on Pittsburgh’s roster, and that player recorded over 209 receiving yards in the previous campaign. It’s George Pickens, the one receiver.

Strangely, Pickens and McConkey were Georgia teammates from 2020 to 21.

Given the dearth of viable starting wideouts on the roster, McConkey may be able to make an impact as soon as he gets to Pittsburgh.

Could the Steelers Trade Back in the First Round?

In 22 years at the helm of the Steelers organization, former general manager Kevin Colbert traded back in the first round once. In new general manager Omar Khan’s first draft, he moved up the board in the first round instead of back to grab offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

A lot of mock drafts have predicted the Steelers to trade up again this year. The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly argued on April 2 a trade up in the first or second round is more likely for the Steelers than a deal to move down the board.

“I think they would have to move up in the second round to get [Zach] Frazier, and I don’t see why that wouldn’t be in play,” Kaboly wrote to a question whether the Steelers could trade down. “One thing I don’t see is trading back. That doesn’t seem like a Khan trait.

“I am looking at Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims at 20 and maybe moving up to 45 or so to grab Frazier. But as we all know, the draft is a fluid situation.”

Even Edwards admitted a trade down the board will be a tough pill to swallow with offensive line prospects available to satisfy needs at center and tackle with the No. 20 overall pick.

But a trade back would allow the Steelers to acquire more draft capital. Edwards didn’t specify the exact trade compensation Pittsburgh could receive from the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 20 pick. But Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle argued it could be Arizona’s 2024 third and fifth-round selections in addition to No. 27 overall.