Steelers must watch these interior offensive lineman for the 2023 NFL Draft

The Steelers might not have an immediate need on the interior of the offensive line, but they could seek some upgrades. 

Looking at the current construction of the offensive line and there has been improvement overall between the trenches from last year to now. The group up front for the Steelers is still far from perfect, but they have shown growth since the pre-season. That encouraging sign could mean that better days are ahead for this team.

With all that being said, this group still needs to be addressed one way or another after the year concludes. Finding a left tackle and a star interior lineman would be the ideal situation for this club. Luckily for the Steelers, both guard and center positions are not valued high in the draft normally and can be addressed on day two of the draft or later.

Layden Robinson is regarded as one of the top guards by most

Layden Robinson seems like the consensus choice as the best guard in college football right now. Things could always change but this Texas A&M player could be next in line to become another former offensive lineman drafted into the NFL. He is the most physically demanding player that has become reliable with his run blocking, which is something the Steelers desperately need.

Kenyon Green was his teammate last year and he got drafted 15th overall to the Houston Texans. Robinson could have also entered the draft last year, but he decided against that to try and raise his stock more. He would have been a day two prospect last time around and he has hope to land in the first round like Green did.

O’Cyrus Torrence could be an interesting name leading up to the draft

One of the other top guards in the country currently is O’Cyrus Torrence coming out of the Florida program. He transferred to the Gators this past year after starting his collegiate career at Louisiana. The jump from the Sun Belt to the SEC conference will pose different challenges for him, but he could jump up draft boards if he keeps on his current path.

Torrence has started off well at Florida and has many different strong attributes going in his favor. His hands are huge, and he knows the best way to deploy them to attack the defender coming after him. The biggest concern about this guard will be his ability to get out and block in space as he continues to show his ability to play well in the tight spots of the trenches.

Cooper Beebe has played all over the offensive line in college

This prospect might be one of the most diverse in terms of position flexibility among offensive linemen in this draft. Cooper Beebe has played all over the trenches for the Kansas State Wildcats, which include guard and left tackle. Most project him as a guard at the next level and that seems like a fair opinion as he does not fare well in certain instances at the tackle spot.

This guy just battles in the trenches and uses his power at the point of attack to shut down defenders on a routine basis. There are some concerns for Beebe, and these will likely sink his stock some as the draft process plays out more. His arms are not long, and his lateral movement is not a strong point of his.

Honorable mentions for Steelers fans to keep an eye on

Jarrett Patterson, OG/OC, Notre Dame

Mason Cole has done a nice job for the Steelers as of right now, but maybe looking at the draft for an upgrade would be a good idea. Jarrett Patterson is mostly seen as a center, but he can also shift over to either guard spot. That position flexibility could bring competition for multiple starting spots across the interior of the Steelers offensive line.

Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Injuries could derail a career and Christian Mahogany had that happen to him recently as he will miss the rest of the season. He could always be a prospect that returns to school in 2023 but getting drafted could be a real scenario for him this year. The injury will scare teams off but getting him in the later rounds would be great value for a prospect that has shown a lot of good things at the guard position.

Joe Tippman, OC, Wisconsin 

Wisconsin has become one of the more reliable programs for developing solid NFL talent in the trenches. One thing you constantly hear about Joe Tippmann is the attitude and fearlessness that he plays with. He is a strong and athletic guy that needs to develop more against certain things that cause his leverage to be thrown off.

The Steelers could show some interest in the interior of their offensive line if they see a player that could upgrade them. Center might be the favorite to find a replacement now, but that spot seems a little weak in this class right now.