Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) reacts against Ohio State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) reacts against Ohio State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
The Steelers draft lands with a familiar name in a mock draft, and a new QB prospect emerges as having met with the team at a bowl game.
: In a new mock draft conducted by Lance Zierlein of NFL Network, the Steelers draft a familiar name, and it is one that seems to be tied to them. With Paris Johnson Jr. and Jordan Addison on the board, Pittsburgh heads for the bloodlines and picks Joey Porter Jr.
“I mean, come on. I get to put the long-limbed press corner and son of former Steelers All-Pro Joey Porter in this spot for Pittsburgh? How could I not,” Zierlein wrote.
It makes sense and cornerback will be a need, but what about Johnson or Addison? Even Trenton Simpson makes sense here with the how the board fell. I am not saying that Zierlein is wrong, but I think some more thought is required to the discourse before we just slap Joey Porter Jr. to the Steelers on the dollar like it’s a guarantee.
: In his new rankings for linebackers after the Senior Bowl, Luke Easterling of the Draft Wire ranked his top linebackers, and it was Trenton Simpson on top. That’s not surprising, nor is Drew Sanders being the second on the board. However, Washington State’s Daiyan Henley is a guy who has picked up steam since a strong week in Mobile, and seems to be trending upwards. That is the third guy on this board, and he could be someone to look at when it comes to risers at the position. The Steelers need a linebacker at some point, and maybe Henley could fill that void.
: According to Justin Melo of the Draft Network the Steelers met with Oklahoma DB Justin Broiles at the Tropical Bowl. They were one of many teams, including the Jaguars, Packers, Bengals, Jets, Lions, and Vikings at the event. Scouts seemed to be impressed by the 5-foot-11, 190 pound defensive back out of Oklanhoma. Broiles joined the Sooners program in 2017, so he will be a bit on the elder side entering the draft, but he is versatile. He started 11 games with one interception and 60 tackles on the season.
: According to Ryan Fowler of the Draft Network, the Steelers draft brass met with ECU QB Holton Ahlers at the NFLPA Bowl. That is interesting, as the Steelers have met with a number of quarterbacks already with Dorian Thompson-Robinson on that list as well. Ahlers is a veteran starter who racked up over 3700 passing yards and 28 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions in his Senior season at East Carolina. Pittsburgh could be looking for a backup quarterback or at least a third-string guy, so Ahlers is someone to keep on the radar.
: PFF did a compilation of players they view as the biggest risers from the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game. They view a couple of key Steelers targets as risers. Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton, Minnesota C John Michael Schmitz, Northwestern DT Ade Adebawore, and West Virginia DL Dante Stills stand out as a few key players on that list.
They don’t list any linebackers there, and I think that is a largely indictment on the class as a whole. But there is plenty of depth at other positions of need the Steelers have, but the linebacker spot is one that is a fascinating debate on how the Steelers will address it.
