Expect 'big' things coming for the Pittsburgh Steelers this April (literally)

It's been a busy two weeks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After kicking off the legal tampering period and agreeing to terms with a few free agents, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have also been occupied with road trips on the scouting trail. Pittsburgh's brass has hit a number of major pro days so far in preparation for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

While not all pro days they visit this offseason will have first-round-caliber players, that has pretty much been the case so far (depending on what you think of Mazi Smith from Michigan). However, there seems to be a developing theme with these visits, and that is scoping out players who can beef up their trenches.

Dating back to last week, Tomlin and Khan have scouted players like DL Bryan Bresee, OT Broderick Jones, DT Mazi Smith, and DL Lukas Van Ness. On Wednesday, Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network that Tomlin and Khan (as well as Pat Meyer and a few other members of the organization) had a formal dinner meeting with Ohio State offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr., Dawand Jones, and Luke Wypler.

Obviously, there are plenty of other high-profile prospects to note from good football programs, but it seems clear that getting bigger and better in the trenches is something that Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl clearly value.

Steelers looking to beef up their trenches in 2023

These Pro Day visits and dinner meetings shouldn't come as a surprise. Over the past several weeks, we saw how the team made it a point to get stronger on the offensive line by signing players like Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo. This is a great start, but it doesn't look like the front office is anywhere near finished.

In addition to adding these two former Eagles (whom Andy Weidl knew well), the Steelers were reportedly in the running for LT Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency. This means that between Herbig and Brown, Pittsburgh could have added two 335-plus-pounders to their offensive line in a matter of days.

Based on their visits and meetings, it seems likely that the Steelers could target an offensive tackle as early as pick 17. Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, and Dawand Jones are a few players who at least check two of three boxes so far when it comes to Combine visits, Pro Day visits, and in-house visits with the Steelers.

Likewise, the defensive interior is clearly a position on their mind, as Pittsburgh has expressed interest in players like Bryan Bresee and Mazi Smith. Both are slated to go early in the draft and neither is guaranteed to be there when the Steelers are on the clock with the 32nd overall selection.

It's not a lock that Tomlin and Khan will address the trenches with their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but at this point in time, it seems to be high on their radar. After much neglect early in the draft over the past decade, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be targeting some mammoths who will beef up the trenches immediately.