The Steelers look to have left the 2022 draft with some great players but it is never too early to prepare for 2023.
The Steelers just finished the 2022 NFL Draft this past weekend and have a complete roster. They have filled their most pressing needs between the start of free agency and the conclusion of the draft. Pittsburgh has all their starters set in place with some depth options ready to compete for roster spots come training camp.
There were some bigger names in this past draft class, but the quarterbacks didn’t carry the same weight as prospects did in prior years. The signal-callers in the 2023 class are expected to have much more polish with a lot more potential and balance with them. Many teams passed over the position just to get ready to focus on it a year from now.
The headline names will be Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Will Anderson Jr. There will be some different options for the Steelers whenever it is their turn to pick in the first round after next season concludes. Many wonder if that will be in the top ten or later, which would exceed many expectations.
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Joey Porter Jr. is the son of Steelers legend, Joey Porter. His father played outside linebacker for the team when they won Super Bowl XL. His father also coached the outside linebackers for Pittsburgh for a decent stretch of time.
Porter is still trying to put everything together at Penn State as his size and athleticism are starting to come together. He should be in store for a nice season that could propel him into the first round. He checks off a lot of boxes that the club always looks for when it comes to their draft selections.
Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame
Brandon joseph is a player that many thought of as a potential first-round pick heading into the 2021 college football season. He did not have the type of season he wanted to and regressed a little in the stat department, but he put up good numbers still. He is heading into his likely final season, but he will be playing at Notre Dame after making the decision to transfer.
The Northwestern program hit a backspin after making the Big Ten Championship game just a few seasons ago. The program is not doing great, but Joseph saw that Kyle Hamilton was entering the draft and that left a starting spot vacant. He should be able to go onto that team and get some attention on a national scale.
Joseph is a great player and someone that many teams will watch closely. He is still young and entering his third year of playing college ball as a starter. The young safety broke onto the scene a couple of years ago and has still put-up solid numbers on the stat sheet.
The Steelers could need a starting safety after the 2022 season concludes and they have a Notre Dame pipeline starting to build. Joseph could be in play for their first-round pick in 2023, especially if Terrell Edmunds departs via free agency. This might be the need for focus in this draft for the team, no matter where they are selecting.
Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
Eli Ricks was a highly sought-after recruit coming out of High school. He chose LSU over many powerhouse programs at the time and started contributing to that defense almost immediately. The biggest issue with this player thus far is his injury history.
This cornerback missed the majority of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury, which required surgery. That knocked out his potential to make a lot of noise in 2021. He will need to show what made him such a highly sought-after recruit and reminds some of Derek Stingley heading into last season.
He decided to transfer over to Alabama with hopes of getting a monster year under his belt after becoming their starter. He has all the athleticism and high pedigree abilities that NFL teams are looking for. This is a prospect that could go as high as Stingley did if he can show his skills and stay healthy.
Alabama is a good landing spot for him, and he can play in bigger games that he would not have had a chance to do at LSU. That program is not as great as it was when he committed there. Cornerback could be another need for the Steelers if Levi Wallace or Ahkello Witherspoon do not work out this season.
Jordan Addison, WR, Pittsburgh/Transfer portal
Jordan Addison has been in the headlines recently for potentially finding a new home in college football. This seems late for a player to transfer, but Addison is currently weighing his options on the table. He is coming off a monster season that would have put him as the top receiver in the 2022 class if he were eligible.
Unfortunately for him, he was not eligible to leave college and had to return. He will be without Kenny Pickett and that could be a factor in him looking at other programs. Kedon Slovis will be the starter at Pitt as he tries to regroup his draft stock as well.
This will likely be the top receiver prospect in this class no matter what team he plays for. The University of Pittsburgh wants to keep him as a Panther, but other places have come calling. USC seems like the favorite if this player departs for a chance to get into a more secure offense.
The Steelers are at a crossroads with Diontae Johnson currently and he could leave after this upcoming season in free agency. Addison is a top ten talent and that would be fun to keep both him and Pickett together. Pittsburgh would seem to be trying to copy what the Cincinnati Bengals did with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase a couple of years ago.
Will Anderson Jr., Edge, Alabama
Will Anderson Jr. seems to be the early favorite to be the first overall selection of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has been dominant during his time with the Alabama defense. He has been nothing but sensational ever since running onto the field for the Crimson Tide.
He is a constant wrecking ball in the backfield and stands out among his teammates. His breakout performance was in 2021 and many expect him to build on that. Getting higher numbers than he did last season is an unreasonable expectation, but if he does, this would be a slam dunk pick.
We saw with Aidan Hutchinson and Travon Walker this past draft that edge rushers are very valuable in the NFL. Teams are starting to notice how much these players impact the game. That is good news for Anderson as he gets ready for his last collegiate season.
The Steelers would need to have a couple of things happen in 2022 for this player to be on their radar. The major one would be, being terrible and finishing with an abysmal record. They would also have to see if Alex Highsmith is the guy opposite of T.J. Watt or not before taking this talented player. Anderson could be long gone before the Steelers pick in 2023, but he would add another great pass rusher to the roster.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
Here is the next great Georgia Bulldog defensive lineman that will enter the NFL in 2023. Many know how revered both Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt were in this past draft, but many think that Jalen Carter will be better.
He has the size and explosion that will make for a great year in 2022 before he leaves college. This has “breakout player” written all over it as Georgia comes into the season with many starters leaving through the draft. Players like Carter will be relied on heavily to replace those that have left the team and that should not be a problem with how Kirby Smart recruits.
This team will be trying to secure another National Championship despite all the starters that were lost this offseason. Carter will be the top dog across the line and should be able to create for a nice season statistically. He had to wait in the wings for some time but expect a lot out of this young player.
The Steelers might need a defensive lineman, despite just drafting DeMarvin Leal in the third round. Cam Heyward and Tyson Alualu are getting older and could retire at some point. Stephon Tuitt’s future is also still up in the air so this position could become a major need in another year. Keep an eye on Carter for the Steelers as the draft process plays out in 2023.
The Steelers were able to fill a lot of holes on their roster during the 2022 NFL Draft. It looks like they could have some gaps on the depth chart that will need to be filled in the 2023 draft.