2020 NFL Draft: Top trade-up targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers

With limited selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to focus on prospects they are sure can contribute this season.

The 2020 NFL Draft is only a few weeks away. With no first-round pick and a limited number of selections, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to make calculated decisions when it comes to which players to draft this year. The team doesn’t have a ton of holes on the roster but they still need players in the draft that can be ready to contribute this season. Trading up to secure these prospects isn’t totally out of the question.

General manager Kevin Colbert was able to get more done in free agency than initially predicted this March. With limited cap space, the Steelers were able to bring in tight end Eric Ebron from the Indianapolis Colts. Ebron was drafted tenth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft and appeared to have been a bust with the Detroit Lions. But Ebron rejuvenated his career with the Colts, scoring an impressive 13 touchdowns in 2018 and looks to be a good fit on the Steelers offense.

On top of Ebron, the Pittsburgh Steelers were also able to add fullback Derek Watt, brother to T.J. Watt, along with interior offensive lineman Stefen Wisnieski. Along with these free-agent pickups, the Steelers also brought back edge rusher Bud Dupree on the franchise tag, securing one end of their impressive defensive line for the 2020 season.

With most of the free agency moves now concluded, the Steelers can now redirect their efforts to prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft. As this may be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s last season in the NFL, the front office in Pittsburgh will have to focus on short-term needs for the roster in the draft.

General manager Colbert appears to be all-in on this year as the team’s best chance to get back to the Super Bowl. With no clear successor in place behind Roethlisberger and divisional rivals looking increasingly more formidable, the Steelers must use this opportunity to make one final push for a Lombardi Trophy to cap off the Roethlisberger era.

That means drafting players that can directly contribute during the 2020 season. No developmental players who cannot contribute until 2021. No gifted but under-trained players who will need a season or two of coaching to get up to speed.

If Colbert and the Pittsburgh Steelers front office want to make the most of Roethlisberger’s twilight years, they will need to bring in players that can help him make the most of this upcoming season. With a stacked defense and a Hall of Fame quarterback, the Steelers can sacrifice late-round picks if it means bringing in a productive rookie or two for the 2020 campaign.

In this article, we’ll explore players in the 2020 NFL Draft that the Steelers should seriously consider as trade-up targets. We’ll explore the team’s roster needs and find realistic trade up prospects for the team to consider heading into this year’s draft. We’ll show why they are a good fit on the Steelers roster and what role they could expect to play once the season starts.

For more analysis on the 2020 NFL Draft make sure to check back with NFL Mocks as we are adding articles every day to give fans the latest news and information regarding the draft.