Steelers Daily Links: Peterson ‘Excited’ to Play with Porter; Pickett Fantasy Value

New Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson is looking forward to being teammates with 2023 second-round draft pick Joey Porter Jr. in Pittsburgh, and he thinks the sky’s the limit for the young cornerback out of Penn State.

“We’re going to be able to make some magic happen,” Peterson said on the All Things Covered podcast. “I’m excited. … Hearing his knowledge of the game and how good he wants to be. … I sense [greatness] from him. I’m very excited to be his teammate. It’s going to be crazy playing with him.”

Peterson also said that he thought Darnell Washington was the steal of the draft. Peterson’s co-host, CBS Sports NFL analyst and former Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden, feels that Washington will give the Steelers offense an added dimension, creating a unique matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

RELATED: Joey Porter Jr: ‘Would Be Dope’ to Play with Patrick Peterson

🏈 Pat McAfee likes the Steelers’ new aggressive approach in free agency and the draft. “It’s almost like the new era. Old (Kevin) Colbert. Older generation, kind of conservative. We’re not trading anybody, we’re not paying anybody early. We’re drafting right were we are drafting, we’re doing this. (Omar) Khan and (Mike) Tomlin seem to be a tag-team kind of taking on a new initiative. Good for the Rooney family saying, ‘Yeah, we’re about it,'” McAfee said.

🏈 Warren Sharp: The Steelers have just three wins by more than one score since 2021, which is tied for the second-fewest in the league. The Steelers’ three wins by more than one score came against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 of the 2021 season, New Orleans Saints in Week 10 of 2022 and the regular-season finale against Cleveland.

🏈 ESPN Fantasy Sports: Mike Clay thinks Kenny Pickett will have a breakout season this year. “Kenny Pickett will be a fantasy sweetheart in 2023. … (He) is primed for a big leap,” Clay said.

🏈 Another way-too-early mock draft for 2024 has emerged. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has the Steelers selecting Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at ninth overall.

“It was easy for Egbuka to get lost in the shuffle at WRU, what with Garrett Williams, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr., but he’s a first-round talent,” Wilson wrote.

🏈 Merril Hoge shared a photo of he and Ike Taylor in the Steelers draft room. Hoge and Taylor, both of whom are former Steelers players, are currently working in the team’s scouting department.

“Teams win championships! Hoge wrote. “It was an impactful experience watching the Steelers scouting department work as a team on draft day! The team includes everyone that works under the roof of the Steeler organization. It was fantastic to see Coach Tomlin and Omar Khan, Andy Weidl, Art Rooney, Dan Rooney Jr and all the scouting departments work together to share insight before making a pick! There is no doubt that we are excited to see how these great college players will adapt to the NFL and help us win #7!”

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