4 Steelers draft prospects who could scratch the Jordan Addison itch

If there are two prospects you can bet on being linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2023 NFL Draft, they are CB Joey Porter Jr. and WR Jordan Addison. Porter is the son of a former Steelers Pro Bowler, while Addison was the top receiver for Kenny Pickett as he played his first two college seasons at Pitt.

While I think that Porter is a good prospect who deserves to be drafted with the 17th overall pick this year, Addison is not. The more I watch his game, the easier it is to see that he projects as a mid-level WR2 in the NFL and doesn't have any standout traits. On top of that, Addison is undersized with short arms and a thin frame with only average athletic ability.

Still, there are plenty of Steelers, fans who would love nothing more than to see Pickett reunited with his top pass-catcher from Pitt. But instead of spending premium draft capital on a player who will likely be a disappointment this early in the draft, Pittsburgh could scratch that Jordan Addison itch that many fans have with one of these receivers with comparable skill sets later in the draft.

4. Steelers could target WR Charlie Jones

If the Steelers wait until late day two or early day three to draft a receiver, they probably won't get a player as safe as Addison. However, they could find players to fill a similar role for a fraction of the draft capital cost. Charlie Jones is one of those guys.

The Purdue prospect has flown under the radar during the pre-draft process, but he shares some similar traits at the position. At 5'11 1/4'' and 175 pounds with 31 5/8'' arms, Jones is slightly bigger than Addison, but he also tested as a significantly better athlete -- earning a 4.43 40-yard dash to pair with a 36 1/2'' vertical and a 10'4'' broad jump.

Jones isn't quite as polished of a route runner, but he can still create space and do some damage after the catch. He also offers something as a deep threat with his ability to win down the field on occasion. Charlie Jones graded out slightly better than Addison this past season, per PFF, and the best part is that he could probably be claimed at the price of a fourth-round pick.