If the season ended now, the Pittsburgh Steelers would have the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It would mark the first time since 2000 that the Steelers have had a top-10 pick (excluding the trade-up for Devin Bush in 2019).
2023 NFL Draft order after 11 weeks:
1) Texans
2) Panthers
3) Bears
4) Raiders
5) Seahawks (via DEN)
6) Lions (via LAR)
7) Texans (via CLE)
8) Steelers
9) Jaguars
10) Eagles (via NO)— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 22, 2022
The Steelers are certainly in uncharted waters, as they haven’t had a 3-7 record through 10 games since 2003, which was also their last losing season. Pittsburgh would have to win six of their seven remaining games to keep Mike Tomlin’s 15-year non-losing season streak alive. The odds of that happening are pretty slim, even though the Steelers only play one team who currently has a winning record in their last seven games — the Baltimore Ravens, twice.
Along with currently having the eighth overall pick, the Steelers are also slotted to have the No. 34 pick in the second round due to the Chase Claypool trade with the Chicago Bears, along with their own second-round pick at No. 39.
The Steelers have a slew of needs, so possibly having three picks in the top 40 of the draft is much needed. The Steelers have glaring holes at offensive tackle, interior offensive line, cornerback, inside linebacker and defensive tackle. They could also use another wide receiver with Claypool now in Chicago.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports has the Steelers selecting Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski at third overall in his latest 2023 NFL mock draft. “Skoronski has been a brick wall in pass protection at Northwestern. He’s exactly the type the Steelers need,” Trapasso wrote.
Offensive tackles Paris Johnson of Ohio State and Olumuyiwa Fashanu of Penn State are also potential options for the Steelers in the top 10. The Steelers haven’t drafted an offensive tackle in the first round since selecting Jamain Stephens out of North Carolina A&T in 1996. Cornerback is another position that the Steelers have failed to address in the draft with top-end talent. Cornerbacks Kelee Ringo of Georgia and Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State would be intriguing.