Steelers Host Center John Michael Schmitz on Pre-Draft Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not send general manger Omar Khan or head coach Mike Tomlin out for a pro day visit on Friday, but that doesn’t mean that they missed out on seeing one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Instead of going out to watch a prospect work out, the Steelers hosted one, bringing Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, according to a report by https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1639368806588899330″>Tom
Pelissero of NFL Network.
The Steelers previously met with Schmitz at the Senior Bowl. He is considered to be the top center in the 2023 NFL Draft and is expected to be drafted in the second round. Schmitz has also scheduled workouts with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Golden Gophers draft prospect was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a first-team All-American in 2022.
A redshirt senior, Schmitz is 24 and one of the older prospects in the draft class, but he does come with plenty of experience. Schmitz started 12 games in 2022, 13 in 2021 and six in a COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. He also started four games at center in 2019.
The Steelers’ continued interest in Schmitz seems significant after the club took pains to improve itself on the interior of the offensive line in the first week of free agency by signing Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo.
The Steelers have all five of their starting offensive linemen returning from 2022, introducing a glut of players, especially along the interior, where Herbig, Seumalo will join Mason Cole, James Daniels and Kevin Dotson in a logjam.
It’s not clear how that will play out, as most of the involved players can play multiple positions along the interior line. But it does not seem that Omar Khan and company are feeling finished with their work in that area, if Schmitz remains on the team’s draft board.
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