Daily Links: CB in 2024 Mock Draft, Ranking Steelers OL

Pro Football Network has already released a seven-round 2024 NFL mock draft, and PFN has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at 13th overall.

“By early projections, the Pittsburgh Steelers are situated on the blue-chip fringe at 13th overall. It’s ultimately up to them to play the board. They could be aggressive and trade up, as they did for Broderick Jones. But if they play their cards right and stay patient, a top-10 talent could fall into their lap. That’s what happens here with Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry,” Ian Cummings of PFN wrote.

“The Steelers did add a promising young CB duo in Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice in 2023. But Patrick Peterson won’t be around much longer, and simply put, if you have the chance to pick McKinstry, you take it. McKinstry has lockdown potential with his length, short-area quickness, and fluidity, but he turns potential into proven mettle with his tenacious physicality, technical efficiency, and swarming ball skills.”

In addition, PFN had the Steelers selecting Georgia center Sedrick Van Pro in the second round and Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson in the third round.

RELATED: Defensive Line among Steelers Future Needs

🏈 Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Football ranked the Steelers’ offensive line as the 14th-best unit in the NFL.

“The offensive line was the unit with biggest jump for Pittsburgh, going from 30th all the way up to 14th this year,” McCrystal wrote. “The addition of Broderick Jones in the first round of the draft gives them a plug-and-play left tackle, and Isaac Seumalo comes over from Philadelphia to solidify that side of the line. Last year, the Steelers were seventh in pass block win rate.”

Steelers inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry’s oldest sons participated in Larry Ogunjobi’s third annual football camp. Curry is reunited with Ogunjobi in Pittsburgh after coaching him in college at Charlotte. 

This is why I coach!!!!! My oldest sons at @Mr_Ogunjobi 3rd Annual Football Camp pic.twitter.com/qK28OHBh9O

— Aaron Curry M.Ed. (@AaronCurry51) July 15, 2023

🎂 Happy Birthday to former Steelers kicker Gary Anderson, born on July 16, 1959 in Parys, South Africa. Anderson was the Steelers kicker from 1982-1994. He’s a member of the Steelers All-Time Team and the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team. In addition, He ranks third in games played (353), points scored (2,434), and field goals made (538) and is also the Steelers’ all-time leading scorer at 1,343 points. After stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, in 1998, Anderson signed with the Minnesota Vikings and converted all 35 of his attempted field goals and all 59 extra points in regular season play, becoming the first placekicker to finish the regular season with a 100% success rate on both field goals and extra points. His only miss of the season came in the 1998 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons ending up winning the game in overtime sending them to Super Bowl XXXIII.

Happy Birthday Gary Anderson
Gary kicked the winning FG in the 1989 AFC Wild Card, giving Chuck Noll his final playoff victory.#Steelers#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/zchzXSirC0

— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) July 16, 2023

🎥 Kenny Pickett was hitting some dingers at Cam Heyward’s celebrity softball game.

. @kennypickett10 hits dingers 😳☄️⚾️ @WashWildThings @steelers @NFL pic.twitter.com/zto3xW5VBv

— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) July 16, 2023

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry says he’s healthy after an injury-plagued year.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pirates have transferred right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras to their Florida Complex League team at Pirates City in Bradenton.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Secondary ACC football and basketball games will move from regional sports networks to The CW, starting with Pitt vs. Cincinnati.

West Virginia Sports Now: Neal Brown will once again be handling the play-calling duties for the WVU offense.

Nittany Sports Now: Penn State waited too long to make an offer to keep Micah Shrewsberry, he said in an interview with CBS.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Albert Dikwa scored his 10th goal of the season as the Riverhounds stayed unbeaten since April with a 1-0 win over Louisville City.