The 2023 NFL Draft is April 27-29 in Kansas City. Here is the projected first-round order, per Tankathon.
2022 record: 9-8 | First-round pick: No. 17 | Team needs: OT, CB, LB
Snapshot: To contend in the AFC North and return to the playoffs, the Steelers must protect their young QB Kenny Pickett and prop up the defense. Free agency, of course, will shed light on where Pittsburgh goes in the draft, but clearly the Steelers must address the offensive line, corner and linebacker.
Potential first-round picks: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia; Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State; Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
After passing on an offensive lineman in the first round of last year’s draft, the Steelers could add Jones in 2023. This season, he has allowed zero sacks or QB hits and just four hurries on 295 pass-blocking snaps.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line got better every week, but tackle Dan Moore Jr. struggled. He was penalized 10 times and allowed seven sacks.
Tackles Peter Skoronski (Northwestern) and Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State) would be great options, too, but both probably will be gone by the 17th pick.
Porter Jr., son of the former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr., makes sense, too. He could be the shutdown corner Pittsburgh covets. In 2022, he broke up nine passes and only allowed 13 catches for 123 yards on 28 targets in 2022.
The Steelers tied for the league lead in interceptions (20) in 2022. If they want to wait on a corner and don’t go OL, they could go for a linebacker in the first round.
Simpson is a great coverage linebacker, allowing only 18 catches for 144 yards on 28 targets. With former first-round LB Devin Bush likely on his way out, the Steelers have a need.
