The Steelers sent a notable presence down to Clemson, South Carolina, to vet out Clemson pro day, hitting the scouting trail for the first time in a significant capacity in 2023.
Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan were in attendance for the Steelers, with Tomlin being the only head coach in attendance for the day, while Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer was also in attendance. Still, in the past, this is a key indication that you are on the Steelers’ radar as a first-round pick, and there are plenty of players to look for in Clemson.
They are headed by defensive line Bryan Bresee, edge rusher Myles Murphy, and linebacker Trenton Simpson. Simpson and Murphy both said they met with the Steelers Monday night, while Simpson admitted he dined with Tomlin and his staff. That tracks a significant amount of interest in Simpson, which the Steelers showcased at the NFL Combine as well.
Meanwhile, Simpson jumped a ridiculous 40.5-inch vertical to combine with his 4.43 40-yard dash from Indianapolis. Needless to say, expect Simpson to fly up boards. In fact, some teams even view him as a safety, but are the Steelers one of those teams? Simpson’s versatility makes him appealing, and he should probably stay at inside linebacker as a result.
Regardless, this is Pittsburgh’s first pro day overall. They will hit many more, and Tomlin and Khan’s attendance is important as always. Tomlin loves the scouting process, so it is no surprise to see him out on the road with the scouting staff yet again. His unique ability to get players to speak with him at a personal level is at an all-time high, and one of those reasons is that he comes to them as that personable person in their stomping grounds. If Pittsburgh’s first-round pick is from Clemson, it would be no surprise.