“Mims should be the target of a potential trade into the top 10 unless Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Olu Fashanu tumble out of the top six,” wrote Tansey.

“Securing a long-term protector for Pickett is imperative this offseason and the draft may be the best way to complete that goal.”

Tansey noted that Bleacher Report projected Mims to be the No. 10 selection to the New York Jets. Bleacher Report had Alt and Fashanu the first two offensive tackles off the board at No. 5 and 6 overall, respectively.

Including the 2019 trade, the Steelers have moved up in the first round in two of the past five drafts. But a jump into the top 10 could still be historic for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers haven’t made a pick above the No. 10 selection since 2000. That year, they selected wide receiver Plaxico Buress at No. 8 overall.

The NFL is known as a copy cat league. This offseason, the copycats are apparently out pushing the Steelers as a trade up candidate in the 2024 NFL draft.

In the past week alone, three analysts have argued the Steelers could move up the draft board to select an offensive tackle.

Tansey’s trade proposal was the most bold, as his had Pittsburgh jumping into the top 10.

It makes sense for mock draft experts to suggest the Steelers as a trade up candidate. Last year, the Steelers dealt their No. 17 and No. 120 overall picks to the New England Patriots for No. 14. Pittsburgh then selected offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

The Steelers also traded their 2019 and 2020 first-round picks.

How Amarius Mims Could Fit With the Steelers

The Steelers moving up in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft is just beginning to gain momentum. But mock draft experts have linked Mims with Pittsburgh since the end of the regular season.

Jones and Mims were teammates at Georgia. Both were on the roster when Georgia won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. Each started during the College Football Playoffs when the program defended its title at the end of the 2022-23 season.