Everyone that reads this post who is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers is probably expecting the team to draft a center this year. Likely somewhere within the first three rounds. While there is obviously a chance that the Steelers wind up selecting a center in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft at 20th overall, the sweet spot for them likely to pick one might just be in the second round, either at 51st overall or after trading up several spots.
The Steelers obviously aren’t the only team that might be looking to draft a center somewhere within the first 51 selections this year. Knowing that, let’s take a deep look at all 32 NFL teams and where each one currently sits when it comes to the center position. Additionally, we’ll look at where each team selects in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
TEAM | STARTING CENTER | PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS |
---|---|---|
Chicago Bears | Ryan Bates/Coleman Shelton | 1, 9 |
First, the Bears acquired Bates back in March via a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Now, he and Coleman Shelton figure to battle for the starting center job this offseason.
“Very important for a young quarterback to have that center experience,” head coach Matt Eberflus said of Bates at the annual NFL league meetings. “To be able to call and make adjustments to the protections, to help and assist that way. We thought it was critical to get that piece, and Ryan (Bates) fits that bill, and we’re excited to have him. He’s been a pro a long time, and he’s moved along the line inside there at guard and center, so it’s good to have the position flex(ibility) as well. But yeah, that’s a critical piece, for sure.”
The Bears only have four scheduled selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, two of those coming within the first 10 picks. Baring them trading down from the ninth spot, it’s hard to imagine them selecting a center in the first two rounds.
TEAM | STARTING CENTER | PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS |
---|---|---|
Washington Commanders | Tyler Biadasz | 2, 36, 40 |
The Commanders signed Biadasz, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, to a three-year deal worth $30 million back in March as an unrestricted free agent. That’s enough reason to believe that the Commanders won’t be looking to select a center in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
NFL TEAM | STARTING CENTER | PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS |
---|---|---|
New England Patriots | David Andrews | 3, 34 |
Andrews, 31, is scheduled to earn $6 million in 2024 with the Patriots in what is scheduled to be the final year of his current contract. The Patriots aren’t likely to select a center at third overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and the same goes for their second-round selection, 34th overall.
TEAM | STARTING CENTER | PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS |
---|---|---|
Arizona Cardinals | Hjalte Froholdt/Evan Brown | 4, 27, 35 |
While the Cardinals could certainly select a center at some point within the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, it feels unlikely that they will. They signed Brown in free agency to a cheap deal and he’ll conceivably battle with Froholdt this summer for the starting center job. The Cardinals do have 11 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft so they might move around some this year.
Even so, with all the needs they have right now, it would be surprising if they used one of their first three selections on a center.
TEAM | STARTING CENTER | PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS |
---|---|---|
Los Angeles Chargers | Bradley Bozeman | 5, 37 |
Veteran Corey Linsley is likely to retire and because of that, the Chargers signed the veteran Bozeman in free agency. Right now, Brenden Jaimes seems to be his backup. The Chargers aren’t likely to select a center fifth overall and with all the other needs they have, it seems less likely that they will use the 37th overall selection on the position as well. However, that is far from guaranteed.
TEAM | STARTING CENTER | PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS |
---|---|---|
New York Giants | John Michael Schmitz | 6, 47 |
The Giants selected Schmitz in the second round, 57th…
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