How Steelers Can Earn an A Grade in 2023 Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is now only two weeks away with the first round beginning on April 27. With mock drafts and other rumors flying around, the general consensus has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting either an offensive tackle or cornerback at pick No. 17.

The Steelers have seven overall selections with three of those coming inside of the top 50.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor said that the Steelers can get an “A grade” in the draft by, “adding a premium offensive tackle in the first round” and “drafting a top-tier cornerback such as Joey Porter Jr. to learn under [Patrick] Peterson.”

With the main free agency period all but over, the Steelers filled some of the immediate needs with the signings of veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson, offensive guards Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, and linebackers Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts.

Pryor added that these signings “give [the Steelers] some flexibility with their two early picks, but the priority should be to protect quarterback Kenny Pickett and strengthen the defensive backs.”

This seems to not only be the public’s view of how the draft will go but league sources also agree that the Steelers will look for either an offensive tackle or cornerback with the team’s first couple of selections.

“The two positions that come up most often when talking to sources about the Steelers’ draft plans are cornerback and offensive tackle,” wrote Matt Miller of ESPN. 

Miller predicted that the Steelers will draft Porter Jr. with the team’s first selection and follow it up by selecting Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison with the 32nd overall pick.

“Porter is a fan favorite — yes, his father was drafted by the Steelers, too — but his length, aggressive style of play and ability to attack the ball also make him a great value and scheme fit for the Steelers. He could definitely be available in the middle of Round 1. And with the first pick of Day 2, I like tackle Anton Harrison to Pittsburgh,” wrote Miller.

Some of the other names that have surfaced to be potential options at pick No. 32 have included cornerbacks Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi State), Deonte Banks (Maryland), Julius Brents (Kansas State), wide receivers Jordan Addison (USC), Zay Flowers (Boston College), and Quentin Johnson (TCU), and offensive tackle Dawand Jones (Ohio State).