Steelers' Top 2023 NFL Draft Targets
Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs last season, there were still some positive takeaways for them. Not only did they still finish with a winning record (9-8), but some of their young core players also continued their development.
Pittsburgh will look to continue making progress in 2023, when it will have even more youngsters to build around. It owns seven picks in this year's three-day NFL draft, which begins Thursday in Kansas City.
In the first round, Pittsburgh will be on the clock at No. 17. It also owns a pair of second-round selections (Nos. 32 and 49).
Here's a look at several players the Steelers may want to consider targeting with their top selections in the draft.
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
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In 2023, Pittsburgh will return Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor, a duo that combined to start all 17 games at the tackle spots last season. However, neither is guaranteed a starting role this year, as the Steelers may be looking for an upgrade to better protect quarterback Kenny Pickett.
It wouldn't be a huge surprise if Pittsburgh decided to use its first-round pick on a tackle. The top available OT at that time could be Tennessee's Darnell Wright, who has the potential to become an immediate starter in the NFL.
"Wright is the best right tackle in the class and an immediate plug-and-play option. Coming from Tennessee's up-tempo, air-it-out system, he's ready in pass protection but has toughness in the run game," ESPN's Matt Miller wrote.
Miller also pointed out that the Steelers haven't selected an offensive tackle in the first round of the NFL draft since 1996, when they took Jamain Stephens. That could change soon, especially if Wright is still on the board when it's Pittsburgh's turn to make its first pick.
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
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It would be a great storyline if Joey Porter Jr. ended up in Pittsburgh. That's because his dad played eight of his 13 NFL seasons with the Steelers and helped them win Super Bowl XL at the end of the 2005 season.
While Joey Porter was a linebacker, his son is a cornerback, which remains one of Pittsburgh's top defensive needs this offseason. Even after signing Patrick Peterson in free agency, the Steelers are lacking depth in that unit in the secondary.
Porter didn't make a ton of big plays during his four-year career at Penn State, as he had only one interception in 34 games. But he's a physical defender with a ton of upside who should continue to improve as he gains experience at the next level.
Pairing Porter with a veteran such as Peterson should aid the youngster's development. Perhaps that leads to Pittsburgh using its first-round pick on the 6'2" CB.
Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin
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Offensive tackle isn't the only position on the O-line the Steelers may look to upgrade via the draft.
It's also possible Pittsburgh will look to add a center, considering Mason Cole (who started all 17 games last season) is 27 and doesn't have a long track record of sustained success.
With the Steelers owning two picks in the second round, they could afford to use one of them on a high-upside center with the potential to be their starter for the long term. Joe Tippmann fits that description.
The 22-year-old has thrived while serving as the starting center for Wisconsin the past two seasons. He was named to the All-Big Ten honorable mention team at the end of the 2022 campaign, during which he started 12 games.
While it's likely Tippmann will sit behind Cole to start in Pittsburgh, he would have the time to make a smooth transition to the NFL.
And at some point, he has the talent that he'd likely take over as the Steelers' starting center, perhaps even before the end of his rookie campaign.
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