Santa gives Steelers plenty of gifts in latest 2023 mock draft

Steelers mock draft round 3: Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame

Trying to figure out the needs of this team at this juncture of the schedule is almost impossible. If Terrell Edmunds departs the club when free agency rolls around, the strong safety position is going to be a dire need. Pittsburgh notices that in this case and they take Brandon Joseph to come in and compete for the starting job.

The Steelers do not have a ton of depth at the position if both Edmunds and Damontae Kazee depart in free agency. The club will need to add to the safety spot and drafting Joseph does that. He has seen better days as a prospect, but joining Notre Dame this past year was not his best output. He has shown in the past to be a strong player and the hope here would be he returns to form.

Steelers mock draft round 4: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

Finding reliable depth behind the two starters at the edge position is going to be another focus for the black and gold this offseason. That could always be a free-agent acquisition, but the Steelers decide to use one of their draft selections instead. They take Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa, and he will not notice many changes in his new uniform.

One thing that could change here is Van Ness returning to school for another season or two. That is something he is qualified to do if he goes with that decision. He has been a highly productive player at Iowa and his youth and moldability are something that the Steelers would love from this player in that third edge rusher role.