The Pittsburgh Steelers will enter the 2024 NFL Draft with several remaining needs to address. Certain areas, such as both the offensive and defensive lines, cornerback, and wide receiver, are all at the top of the list. Safety and inside linebacker could be positions the team wishes to target as well. The second wave of free agency will be tapped into by General Manager Omar Khan, but depending on how the draft plays out, some units may need more bolstering than others. That could set up for a reunion between the franchise and former players.

The Steelers love familiarity and won’t reach to draft someone if they feel as if they can get better value within the free agency pool. The offensive line seems to be the most important entering the draft, but that likely won’t stop them from adding to the unit in May and beyond. It all starts, however, with a veteran cornerback who remains unsigned.

1.) Patrick Peterson – Cornerback

It almost makes too much sense at this point to entertain the idea of Patrick Peterson returning to the Steel City. Pittsburgh landed Donte Jackson in the Diontae Johnson trade, but the position is far from being solidified. Peterson was underwhelming is his lone season with the Steelers, but there will be a spot for him at the right price if depth is needed.

Peterson was released a week or so before the start of the legal tampering period. Not too long after, it was reported that the veteran would be interested in coming back to play for Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Khan is expected to draft one, or more cornerbacks, but experience is hard to come by. If there is an extra spot open, and Peterson is willing to come back for close to the veteran minimum, a reunion is absolutely in the cards.

2.) Mason Cole – Center

It’s the name no fan wants to hear after a subpar 2023 season, but Mason Cole returning is becoming more and more of a reality. If the Steelers elect to focus on the tackle position and fail to emphasize drafting one of the top centers in the 2024 class, Cole could very well be in the mix for the starting center spot, even though he was released with a year left on his initial free agency contract.

Fans would prefer a plug-and-play center such as Jackson Powers-Johnson or Zach Frazier, but the market for the position is more unpredictable than it has been in recent years. Nate Herbig would likely start if a game had to be played today, but Pittsburgh calling Cole immediately after the draft is a serious possibility if the Steelers can’t find their guy.

3.) Miles Boykin – Wide Receiver/Special Teams

Miles Boykin has yet to sign with anyone following his contract expiring with the Steelers. He isn’t needed as an offensive weapon, but has proven himself as one of the more valuable gunners in the league on the punt team. Pittsburgh finally made the smart move in moving on from Pressley Harvin III and bringing back a veteran and special teams standout makes a ton of sense. He would be the sixth wide receiver, so it depends what happens in the draft in that area.

Steelers Bringing Back Former First-Round Pick Not Out Of The Realm Of Possibility

After the addition of DeShon Elliott, it’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh bringing in another safety, but Terrell Edmunds proved that he can work well with Minkah Fitzpatrick. Edmunds bounced around in 2023 as he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, only to later be traded to the Tennessee Titans. He is still looking for a new home and that will likely be his reality until after the draft. Tomlin’s familiarity with the safety leads one to believe it could make sense for him to come back.