Steelers Draft Digest: Omar Khan Attends HBCU Combine, Top Tackle Mocked to Pittsburgh

The Steelers draft brass, including general manager Omar Khan takes in the HBCU Combine while the top tackle land with the Steelers in a mock draft.

: In a new mock draft done by Nate Davis of USA Today, the Steelers land what might just be their dream pick in Georgia OT Broderick Jones. The impressive Jones stood out all year with the Bulldogs, and the pick makes complete sense from Davis here.

“As much as they’re counting on Kenny Pickett – almost indisputably the worst quarterback in the AFC North, even if he blossoms into a Pro Bowler in 2023 – it’s high time to invest in the protection in front of him, which would also surely meet with RB Najee Harris’ approval, too,” Davis said.

As I said, if Jones makes it to 17, it really seems like a no-brainer for the Steelers here. Jones should be wearing the Black and Gold if he falls that far.

: According to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, scouts are buzzing about Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents after his standout performance at the Senior Bowl a few weeks ago. The 6-foot-3 cornerback has elite length, and that could be a key boost to his draft stock over the coming weeks. I was particularly impressed by how he used his length and press coverage. Oftentimes, he stifled receivers to the point where balls were either hail-mary attempts or just outright not thrown at all.

Over the weekend, I highlighted Brents and why it could be part of the Steelers draft plans upcoming in the 2023 NFL Draft. His length, intelligence, and versatility are a glove-like fit within the scheme that Pittsburgh runs and what they look for in their outside cornerbacks.

: Steelers GM Omar Khan took in the HBCU Combine down in New Orleans on Monday. He is the only general manager in attendance and gave a hearty speech to the participants that are at the event.

“Congratulations for being here. You should be proud, but remember all the scouts here didn’t come to celebrate Mardi Gras,” Khan said to the prospects.

31 of the 32 teams are represented at the event, but Khan and the Steelers have a special history with HBCUs. So, it makes sense that he would show up at the event. The HBCU players will be put through a traditional NFL Combine as they try to impress those in attendance.

: Meanwhile, PFF did a mock draft that entailed everyone in the college football landscape as eligible for the draft. However, the Steelers actually land someone who will be in this class. It is none other than Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon, who makes plenty of sense for the Steelers.

“The Steelers ran press coverage on more than 65% of their plays in 2022, and there isn’t a better press cornerback in this all-eligible class than Witherspoon. On 107 press coverage snaps this past season, the junior allowed a grand total of one yard,” PFF wrote.

: Todd McShay mocked the Steelers Christian Gonzalez, another top cornerback, but this time, out of Oregon. That comes as a little surprising given the location of where the Steelers usually try and draft from, however, Gonzalez was up there as the best player available with most of the top offensive linemen gone. Could he land with the Steelers? It is possible, and he certainly will land with all the measurements that they will love to have in their cornerbacks.