Daily Links: Steelers Get Value, Athletes; 2024 Mock Draft Already?

🏈 The 2023 NFL Draft ended on Saturday night, but mock drafts for 2024 are already out. Pro Football Focus has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Clemson inside linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at 10th overall in their way-too-early 2024 NFL mock draft. The draft order is based on Super Bowl LVIII odds.

“The son of former All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the sophomore linebacker has lived up to his father’s name and then some,” Max Chadwick of PFF wrote.”The younger Trotter excels on passing plays, as he was the only Power Five linebacker with 80-plus grades as a pass-rusher and in coverage. Trotter was second in that same group in both passer rating allowed (42.9) and open target rate allowed (47.6%).”

Trotter’s dad, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., was a four-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2000s. Trotter Jr. had a breakout season at Clemson in 2022, recording 89 tackles (50 solos), 6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss, five passes defended and two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six. Trotter was rated a four-star recruit out of St. Joe’s Prep in Philadelphia, where he was teammates with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Marin Harrison Sr. PFF had Harrison going to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 2 overall in their way-too-early mock draft.

🏈 Nick Herbig shared his emotional reaction to being drafted by the Steelers on Twitter.

Mood 😎 pic.twitter.com/Cxynnd92NR

— Nick Herbig (@nickherbig_) May 1, 2023

🏈 According to Kent Lee Platte, the creator of RAS Football, the Steelers had an extremely athletic draft class. Only Nick Herbig had a below 8.00 grade at 7.75, which is still very respectable.

The one player the #Steelers took who didn't have an elite #RAS still had a very respectable 7.75. Prioritizing athletes in 2023. pic.twitter.com/IM0TcWNBB4

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 29, 2023

🏈 Executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl Jim Nagy revealed that “known medicals” were the reason why Steelers’ sixth-round pick Cory Trice Jr. didn’t get a Senior Bowl invite.

“Many people in league tipped us off in November and we thought he could fall all way out of draft, which almost happened,” Nagy tweeted. Trice was considered to be a third-round prospect prior to the medical concerns.

🏈 Todd McShay had Joey Porter Jr. as the “best value pick” in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“I had Porter at No. 23 on my big board, and outside of Kentucky QB Will Levis, he was the best available player entering Day 2.,” McShay wrote. “Pittsburgh took care of a big need in Round 1 by selecting offensive tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia, but corner was still a hole leading into Friday night. The Steelers replaced soon-to-be 33-year-old Patrick Peterson, and they allowed 7.5 yards per attempt last season. 29th in the NFL. So yeah, I really like the Porter move at the top of Round 2.”

🏈 Pro Football Focus: Sam Monson’s favorite third-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft was Darnell Washington.

🏈 Mike DeFabo of The Athletic posted a clip of Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington working together on a toss sweep blocking scheme at Georgia against Florida. Check out Jones’ block on Florida cornerback Jaydon Hill when he gets to the outside.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Carter Warren and Israel Abanikanda both went to the New York Jets in the fourth and fifth rounds as part of five Pitt players drafted on day three. LB SirVocea Dennis went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round, FS Erick Hallett II was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round and SS Brandon Hill went to the Houston Texans in the seventh round.

West Virginia Sports Now: WVU WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, considered by some an early day three pick, went undrafted and ended up signing with the New York Giants.

Nittany Sports Now: Former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was one of the surprise picks of the third day of the draft, going in the fifth round to the Green Bay Packers.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Winger Alex Nylander has re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year deal.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates swept a doubleheader agains the Washington Nationals, winning 16-1 in the nightcap while Drew Maggi went 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI, career firsts all the way around for the 33-year-old journeyman.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Returning to USL play after a midweek U.S. Open Cup win, the Riverhounds played to a 1-1 draw against the Indy Eleven.