The results from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 rookie class were largely positive, at least from those who were healthy, but how would things change in a redraft?
ESPN tackled that exact concept, going through the first two rounds and retroactively projecting how each team would approach the NFL Draft with oodles of new information at their disposal.
Pittsburgh selected Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu with their first-round pick at No. 20 overall. The 24-year-old sprained his MCL during the preseason opener against the Houston Texans before dislocating his kneecap in practice ahead of the team’s Week 3 bout with the Los Angeles Chargers, limiting him to just one regular season game and 55 snaps on the year.
He was on the board when the Steelers were on the clock in the do-over, though Brooke Pryor opted to take fellow tackle Amarius Mims instead, a Georgia product who originally went No. 18 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
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“The Steelers could consider keeping Fautanu in this spot, but he’s tough to evaluate after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2,” Pryor wrote. “Mims also battled through injuries, but he had a solid season and was especially key in pass-blocking situations. Drafting Mims could’ve allowed the Steelers to move Broderick Jones to the left side and insert Mims at right tackle.”
Mims started 13 contests for Cincinnati this past year at right tackle, allowing 33 pressures and four sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
Fautanu, on the other hand, slid all the way down to the New England Patriots at the top of the second round at No. 34 overall.
Pittsburgh’s actual second-round pick at No. 51 was Zach Frazier, who developed into one of the league’s best centers after starting 15 games and ceding just 12 pressures while also imposing his will as a run blocker.
He went No. 31 to the San Francisco 49ers, meaning Pryor had to pivot and go with defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, who was the Atlanta Falcons’ choice at No. 35 out of Clemson in the real draft.
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“With Frazier long gone in this scenario, the Steelers could get good value by reloading the defensive line with Orhorhoro,” Pryor wrote. “Though Cam Heyward had one of his best seasons, the 35-year-old is in the twilight of his career, and the cupboard behind him is getting bare. Orhorhoro missed a chunk of his rookie season while on injured reserve (ankle), but his versatility and upside make him a great fit.”
Orhorhoro appeared in just eight games as a rookie, which was a byproduct of him being a healthy inactive to begin the year while also sustaining an ankle injury in Week 8 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
When he was on the field, the 23-year-old logged 11 tackles and six pressures across 147 defensive snaps.
Neither Payton Wilson nor Mason McCormick, each of whom received significant playing time and impressed, were chosen in the redraft.
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Forgotten frontier: How Pittsburgh shaped America’s July 4th
We take you inside Fort Pitt Museum’s “Pittsburgh’s Revolution” exhibit to show how a frontier fort became a key in America’s path to independence.
Pittsburgh’s Fourth of July traditions are rooted in centuries of American history, and Fort Pitt Museum sits at the heart of that story.
Located in Point State Park at the confluence of the city’s three rivers, the museum traces western Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the early expansion of the United States.
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An exhibit you don’t want to miss
Inside, the “Pittsburgh’s Revolution” exhibit spotlights how this frontier outpost helped shape the Revolutionary War and the push for independence. Rare artifacts, detailed maps and personal stories walk visitors through a time when control of Fort Pitt meant control of the West, giving colonists a crucial foothold in the struggle against British rule. The exhibit also emphasizes the diverse communities at the Point, including soldiers, Indigenous nations, traders and settlers, whose lives intersected in ways that still echo in Pittsburgh’s identity today.
For modern visitors, the museum offers an immersive experience that connects familiar July 4 images with the realities of life on the 18th‑century frontier. Families can explore galleries that explain how supplies moved through Pittsburgh to support the Continental Army, how diplomacy unfolded with Native nations, and how everyday people navigated a world in conflict. It turns Independence Day from a single date on the calendar into an ongoing story that started along these rivers and radiated outward.
As America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Fort Pitt’s “Fourth at the Fort” programming brings that history into the present with flag ceremonies, living history encampments and hands‑on activities in Point State Park.
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For Pittsburghers looking to go beyond fireworks, a visit to Fort Pitt Museum offers a reminder that Independence Day here is not only about celebration, but about standing on the ground where American history was made.
This article by Gabby Sartori was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
Pittsburgh officials are partnering with a nonprofit to provide a unique way to thank veterans for their service while getting a grand look at the Steel City.
A 90-foot Ferris wheel dubbed the Salute to Service Wheel will be spinning on the North Shore from Wednesday through Sunday.
It’s provided by Piatt Companies and Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty with half of ticket sale proceeds going to Veterans Leadership Program.
First launched in 1982, VLP helps veterans navigate life’s transitions. Efforts include wellness services, housing, career development and various support programs.
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Mayor Corey O’Connor, parks and recreation director Eric Sloan, Piatt Companies CEO Lucas Piatt and representatives from the Veterans Leadership Program are expected to host a grand opening celebration Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. at North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Avenue and take the first rides.
It is part of Pittsburgh’s Independence Day celebration.
Tickets are on sale now and cost $11.20, including a $1.20 service fee. They can be found at pittsburghpa.gov.
Bookings are in hour intervals from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday and from 2-8 p.m. Sunday.
Riders smaller than 48 inches tall must be accompanied by an adult.
