2024 NFL Mock Draft: Steelers Make Shocking Trade with Bears for New QB

Would Pittsburgh really make a bold move like this in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft?

The first two years of the Kenny Pickett era for the Pittsburgh Steelers have been marked by injuries and inconsistency, which could lead them to consider replacing him this offseason.

While there's been some discussion about Pittsburgh being a potential trade destination for Justin Fields, there's another option for the Steelers to find a new signal-caller, and one that could still involve the Chicago Bears.

In the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, the Steelers make a big move up the board, trading up from the No. 20 pick inside the top 10, swapping spots with the Bears to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 9 selection.

It's unclear what kind of compensation would be changing hands in this deal, but it seems unlikely from the Steelers' perspective. While their current quarterback situation certainly warrants upgrading, trading up into the top 10 for the fourth-best passer in this year's class doesn't seem like something this particular franchise would do right now.

McCarthy is expected to be the fourth quarterback off the board / Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

McCarthy has shown flashes of potential during his time with the Wolverines, and has obviously enjoyed plenty of team success, but he's still untested as a passer after playing in a run-heavy offense that rarely asked him to win games with his arm.

It seems far more likely that the Steelers would be targeting an offensive lineman or a cornerback with their top pick in this year's draft, only moving up a couple of spots if necessary to get their preferred prospect, as they did last year with offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

It's also hard to imagine this deal from the Bears' side, considering Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze was still on the board in this mock when they decided to make the big drop down all the way to the No. 20 pick. Whether they keep Fields or spend the No. 1 pick on USC quarterback Caleb Williams (as they do in this projection), the chance to add another elite pass-catcher to pair with D.J. Moore would be more valuable than whatever they'd get in return from the Steelers for moving down.

To check out the full first-round mock draft at CBS Sports, click here.

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