Every year there is always excitement heading into the NFL Draft. It is bittersweet with the type of position that the Steelers will be drafting. Pick 17 means you were an average team the season prior with no playoff experience to end your year The organization has been busy scouting the country and completing a ton of meetings to lead up to the first round of the draft.
The first night of the event is always a spectacle as top prospects both in person and around the country wait to hear their names called. Pittsburgh will have to wait for 16 selections to come and go before they are officially on the clock in round one. Unless an unlikely trade-up scenario plays out, the club will wait their turn to select their top selection in the 2023 draft year.
Trenton Simpson could be an under the radar selection in the first round
One name that has not gotten a lot of attention in round one recently is Trenton Simpson. He has seemingly lost some steam as the draft gets closer. The black and gold have shown a lot of interest in this Clemson product throughout the draft process. One of the dead giveaways was the massive dinner that the top brass of the Steelers had with a multitude of Clemson players going pro.
Having dinner with a couple of other prospects might not be the end-all-be-all for the Steelers, but it does expose their interest in someone. Simpson seems to be pegged as a day two selection in the draft. Pittsburgh has reached for players before as they follow their draft board, no matter if it conflicts with experts or not. Simpson would be a shocking pick at 17 but do not rule out the notion completely.
Broderick Jones is the dream selection for the Steelers at pick 17
Offensive tackle has gotten a lot of press when it comes to the first-round prediction of the Steelers in 2023. It is a massive position of need, especially on the left side of the trenches for this offense. Dan Moore Jr. is debatably the worst starter on that unit, and the blindside is begging for an upgrade. Many suspect that upgrade will finally come in the first round of the NFL draft once and for all.
Getting one of the other top offensive linemen might be more interesting like Paris Johnson Jr. or Peter Skoronski, but neither of those two will come close to pick 17. The only sure bet at tackle this draft class is Johnson, but you would likely need to move up ten spots or more for a shot at him. One name that could drop is Broderick Jones.
The impressive tackle coming out of Georgia is still fairly young and has a high ceiling entering the NFL. Most believe that his name will rise on draft boards as the event gets closer over the next few weeks. The black and gold would love to sit until pick 17 to select Jones, but that does not seem like a realistic possibility anymore.
Brian Branch would be a reliable pick, but potentially too rich in round one
It’s not very common where you pick in the middle of the first round and could still select the top prospect at their position in the draft. That situation could arise for the Steelers at pick 17 if they decided to use that selection on Brian Branch out of Alabama. He is the top safety in this class according to a high majority, but using this pick on him might be too rich.
This draft class of safeties is not the strongest group in general. Branch is an exception overall as he can play the slot role and the strong safety spot for Pittsburgh's defense. He can wear a couple of hats for this group, but that might not be enough to justify selecting a player this early in the draft over other needs.
Branch did well at his pro day and is a good prospect heading into the NFL. The Steelers met with him at his pro day as they sent the house there to watch closely. That should be a good sign for Branch regarding the potential of being drafted in round one. Taking him with the top pick in the second round should be a better option but pick 17 would not be the worst reach by this organization.
Dawand Jones checks off a lot of boxes for the Steelers past first round selections
Perhaps one of the best options that will likely still be available at pick 17 will be Dawand Jones. The Ohio State product has gotten a lot of attention from the top brass of the Steelers, and the club is looking heavily at his position. He has played on the right side throughout his collegiate career, but he would be drafted this high because the club would envision him as a left tackle.
As mentioned throughout this article, having dinner with Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are historically a good sign of their interest in a specific player. Early round selections constantly meet with the team over dinner and throughout the process face to face before they are picked by the team. Jones's teammate, Paris Johnson Jr. got a lot of attention from the club, but that is a pipe dream that will likely not come true.
Jones is the realistic possibility that should be the top choice by the black and gold unless another team selects him before pick 17. That does not seem like it will happen and revamping the offensive line has been top priority by this new management team for Pittsburgh. Jones is one of the most attainable names for this club on night one of the NFL draft.
Joey Porter Jr. seems like he will be the pick if he is available
Here comes the smack you in the face obvious pick for the Steelers on night one of the draft. The biggest hurdle in this path is the potential of Joey Porter Jr. being off the board well before Pittsburgh makes their selection. The NFL draft has seen better talents than him fall further before, but corners are highly sought after.
Connections and football families are big check marks for Tomlin, and he would love having Joey Porter’s son on this team. This cornerback is the perfect size for today’s NFL defender and would become an instant upgrade in the room. Some have compared this connection to the black and gold with Najee Harris when he was coming out of Alabama a few years ago.
That is a fair comparison as the writing is on the wall, but there are some differences present. Harris filled a giant hole and seemingly would still be there when Pittsburgh picked. Porter would fill a big hole on the defense, but it is unknown if he will still be available. If he is still available, unless another top prospect fell, it is more likely than not that Porter will be the Steelers choice in round one of the 2023 NFL draft.