With the 2023 NFL draft officially wrapped up, I wanted to provide my initial grades for the Steelers class of picks. While I agree that you need at least a season and a half worth of film to provide an accurate grade for a pick, I like providing my initial reaction to the pick, even if that final grade is subject to change.
Unlike most years, there was a lot that I loved from this Steelers draft class from the top down. I think they got excellent value for most of their picks and they added to key positions of need. It wasn’t perfect, but it is my favorite draft class on paper since I began following the draft over ten years ago. Here are my initial grades for the Steelers 2023 draft.
Steelers first-round pick: OT Broderick Jones
Grade: A-
It was no secret that the Steelers needed offensive tackle help to continue their offensive line rebuild. While Dan Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor are both safe and tested options, neither are great players. Finding a capable left tackle would make this room far more talented and competitive.
The issue was, there were three true top tackles in the class, and two were off the board before pick 14. This necessitated a trade-up (which despite being good value still keeps this pick as a whole from being an A+) so the team could land the last top tackle prospect in Broderick Jones.
Jones has his warts as a player, from being underdeveloped as a blocker and having limited experience in school, but the sky is the limit for him. He sometimes flashes elite blocking and was dominant in the trenches at Georgia. He has the perfect size, length, and athleticism, further adding to himself as a prospect.
Jones should be the early favorite to start at left tackle despite this rawness in his game, and if he truly needs a few games to grow into that role, the team can roll out their other tackles. If Jones is coached up properly, he has an extremely high ceiling. He could easily become one of the top tackles in the league in due time.
This didn’t score top marks because of the small trade-up to acquire him. That said, this was a great way to kick off the first round of the draft. Jones should be a huge upgrade at tackle and has the ability to be great. He also fills a huge need at a premier position. There is a lot to love with this top pick.
Steelers second-round pick: CB Joey Porter
Grade: A+
I’ll be the first to say that I was less high on Joey Porter than most. Far from a perfect prospect, Porter possesses a rare build and the ability to contribute instantly in a man coverage scheme. That said, his upside is undeniable, and had he been taken at pick 17, I would have graded it somewhere in the B range.
The fact that he fell out of the first round was surprising considering the build and potential, and the Steelers using pick 32 on him was great value. Porter was squarely a first-round prospect who fell out of the first round due to the depth of the cornerback class.
I’d expect Porter to instantly see playing time in nickel and dime defense early on, as he can be the outside cornerback early on. I’d expect him to have every opportunity to earn the job as the other outside cornerback for this defense as well.
Though I was in favor of trading back from pick 32, seeing the compensation that the Titans gave to move up to pick 33, I think Porter was the right pick. He fills a major need and has the potential to be a top outside cornerback for this team. The top two picks filled major needs with amazing potential.
Steelers second-round pick: DL Keeanu Benton
Grade: A-
The third pick of the class and still high marks overall, Keeanu Benton was squarely on the Steelers radar early in the draft process. Despite not having elite pass-rushing traits, Benton was one of the better run defenders in college football last season. Add in his versatility along the line and he should be a big addition to this roster.
I expect Benton to come in right away and play as a nose tackle, as that was his most prominent role in school. He is a little tall for the role, but he has the base strength you want in a nose tackle. He can take up space and require double teams in order to slow him down from getting into the backfield.
Given his size and length though, Benton can, and likely will, move around the line. His run defense is easily his best trait, but if he can develop an array of pass-rushing moves, he should be able to play more of an end role. He could even be in line to be a replacement for Cameron Heyward once he hangs it up.
Of all the names in this class, I expect Benton to have the earliest and most prominent role. He should become the base nose tackle early as he works his way into other roles. I love this pick due to the versatility he brings. The value also was good, and he earns high marks overall.
Steelers third-round pick: TE Darnell Washington
Grade: A+
Like the Jones trade in round one, I will also factor in the Steelers trading back and netting a fourth-round pick in this grade. To be honest, though, this pick was another A before the trade details were known. Darnell Washington is a rare breed of tight end, and landing him late in the third round was always going to get a high grade for this team.
Washington is a huge tight end that uses his size to bully defenders in the blocking game. He jokingly refers to himself as the “sixth offensive lineman” and seemingly takes great pride in his ability to throw a block. For a team that is focused on getting more physical and focused on a running game, Washington is a great offensive fit.
He has untapped potential as a receiver though, possessing soft hands, a hard-to-cover frame, and good athleticism given his frame. His route running is raw and he wasn’t heavily featured as a receiving threat in school, so there is a lot of projection here.
For a late third-round pick though, even if he just resumed his role as a blocker, that is fine value. There are some medical concerns that dropped him this far into the draft, but trading back and netting some more picks while also landing a potential top tight end is great value and earns this team yet another high grade.
Steelers fourth-round pick: LB Nick Herbig
Grade: B-
Shortly after offensive lineman, Nate Herbig signed with the Steelers, speculation came in that the team would be looking to draft his brother Nick Herbig. From Nate talking about it in his first press conference, to the need at the position, and the team's love of siblings, it made sense for the younger Herbig to be a draft target.
There is a lot that I like about Herbig, as he pops out on tape and was a productive player last year at Wisconsin. The Steelers were in desperate need of some linebacker depth, and Herbig could help fill that.
My issue is where he will ultimately play. While a traditional edge rusher at Wisconsin, he lacks the ideal frame and length to stay there. Pittsburgh has notoriously struggled with smaller edge rushers (just look at Malik Reed last year), so Herbig may have to kick inside.
The Steelers may already view him as such given the fact that Aaron Curry was at his pro day. The fourth round is fine value for a player like Herbig, but I’m a little weary of his lack of a defined position. He should be an early special teams player and a fine backup, but I’m not sure where he will find the most success as a player overall.
Steelers seventh-round pick: CB Cory Trice
Grade: A
While I didn’t have Cory Trice on my late-round radar, I did have the Steelers double dipping at cornerback in my final mock draft. It made sense given the lack of talent at the position and the relative depth of the cornerback room in the draft. Along with some medical concerns, Trice seemed to drop because of the depth in the draft.
As a player, Price is another big outside capable cornerback with good athleticism. Despite being a redshirt senior, he only started one full season (this was due to some nagging injuries). He pops on tape, as he is a combative player that does well in press and man coverage.
While his size and athleticism look good on paper, he isn’t a fluid mover on the field. He can struggle to turn and run and his footwork is sloppy as a cornerback. Some people view him more as a safety prospect because of this.
For a seventh-round pick though, Trice is great value. If he can get more refined as a coverage player, he could develop into a starter. If not, you can try him out as a safety in a few years. At worst, his straight-line speed and size should make him a capable special teams gunner. The potential really earns him a high grade here.
Steelers seventh-round pick: IOL Spencer Anderson
Grade: C
On paper, I don’t hate the selection of Spencer Anderson in the seventh round. He has a clear path to the roster and a build that you should like in an interior player. Good height and decent length make him an intriguing fit as a depth piece along the line.
That said, his tape is really hit or miss, and considering his experience at Maryland, it seems like he is close to his ceiling as a player. He can play almost every spot along the line, which is a good thing, but he hasn’t found a permanent home yet and likely won’t at the NFL.
The Steelers line is one of the now deeper positions on the roster, and the only thing they really need is a capable backup center. Anderson has some experience there, but I would have rather them just take someone who did that in college (like an Alex Forsyth, who went just a few spots later).
Again, I’m not going to complain about a seventh-round pick with a decent shot of making the final roster, but his fit is puzzling. He is my least favorite pick in this draft and the only one that I feel like the team should have looked elsewhere.
I am very impressed with the Steelers draft haul this year. The first and second rounds were huge for the team, and while there were some more questions on day three, nothing was egregious. On paper, this is one of the strongest draft classes in some time, and I am personally thrilled with who the team came away with this year.