Steelers' Top Options With No. 17 Pick in 2023 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers just missed out on the playoffs in Week 18, but there are still plenty of positives to take from the 2022 NFL season.

For one, the team showed a lot of resolve to rally from 3-7 to the cusp of the playoffs in the final week of the season. That says a lot about the job Mike Tomlin did to motivate his team and the strides Kenny Pickett made as a quarterback throughout the campaign.

The other positive to come out of it is that Pittsburgh will have a fairly valuable pick in the NFL draft. The No. 17 selection is the earliest pick they've had since 2014. They traded up for the 10th pick in 2019 but originally held the 20th selection that year.

That gives the Steelers an opportunity to grab a promising rookie who could help push them over the edge next season as they look to reclaim their spot among the best in the AFC.

Here's a look at three of the top options who could be available at No. 17 on April 27.

OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski (77) in action against Duke during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

This one may be a bit of wishful thinking. Peter Skoronski is the No. 11 overall prospect on the latest Bleacher Report Big Board, but the Northwestern tackle would be a dream catch for the Steelers.

Dan Moore Jr. has played admirably for a fourth-round pick at one of the game's most important positions, but Pittsburgh has a chance to upgrade the left tackle spot. Moore surrendered seven sacks this season and was the 61st-ranked tackle by PFF.

Skoronski might be the best tackle in the draft class, but it's worth noting teams can sometimes overthink things, and his 6'4", 315-pound build with middling arm length could cause others to pause.

The obvious comparison is Rashawn Slater. Skoronski's predecessor at Northwestern put up great film and appeared to be the 2021 class' best tackle but didn't get taken until No. 13 overall by the Los Angeles Chargers.

According to PFF, Skoronski has surrendered just three sacks in his last 24 games as a Wildcat. He has the kind of aggression and physicality to be a tone-setter up front and keep Kenny Pickett's jersey clean for the foreseeable future.

This time last year, no one thought Pickett would slide to No. 20. Unfavorable measures helped the Steelers land their quarterback of the future. The same could happen at left tackle this year.

OT Broderick Jones, Georgia

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Broderick Jones #59 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

If teams are smart enough to make sure Skoronski doesn't fall to the Steelers, there are still options that make sense if Pittsburgh wants a blindside protector.

Broderick Jones is not just a consolation prize in that pursuit. He has all the tools needed to become a cornerstone on the offensive line for years to come.

The 6'4" 310-pounder is a redshirt sophomore, but he's put enough on film to show he's worth a first-round pick. This season, he allowed zero sacks on 470 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.

Like Skoronski, the 21-year-old's build is a little more compact than prototypical tackles, but it's clear when watching him play in space that he has the athleticism to handle outside pass-rushers.

Jones might not quite be the technician of his draft counterparts, and he comes in at No. 34 on the Bleacher Report Big Board. But his athleticism and upside are likely to propel him higher up draft boards.

The Georgia product would be the kind of run-blocker who would allow the Steelers to get creative with their screen and run games.

DL Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 05: Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Tyree Wilson (#19) tries to get around the block of TCU Horned Frogs offensive tackle Brandon Coleman (#77) during the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and TCU Horned Frogs on November 05, 2022 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If the Steelers opt to go the defensive route with their first-round pick, a cornerback or defensive lineman might be in order.

Pittsburgh has benefitted from a great defensive line for years. But when T.J. Watt went down for a big chunk of the season, it became clear it was an injury away from becoming a liability.

The surprise retirement of Stephon Tuitt didn't help, but the Steelers will need to replace 33-year-old Cam Heyward soon, too.

Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson is one of the more unique defensive-line prospects in the draft. At 6'6", 275 pounds, he has the size and versatility to play multiple roles along the defensive line.

According to PFF, the 22-year-old racked up eight sacks and 32 hurries this season while lining up outside the tackle, over the tackle and in the B-gap.

Pairing Wilson with 2022 third-round pick DeMarvin Leal could give the Steelers a formidable duo up front for years to come.