Pittsburgh just went through the first part of the free agency process and found some veterans to plug some holes. They will likely comb over the remaining free agents before the draft becomes their top prize for player acquisition moving forward. Plenty of needs still litter this roster and the Steelers hope to do most of their problem solving through the draft process from here on out.
TRADE: Steelers receive picks 19, 82, 174. Buccaneers receive pick 17.
Pick 17 rolls along and the black and gold do not love what they see left on the board. All the top cornerbacks and tackles are gone by this point. Tampa Bay makes a call and gives the Steelers a great trade offer to move back a couple of spots. They get a great haul of two extra selections in the 2023 draft, which will allow them to add more talent to this club.
Steelers mock draft round 1: OT Broderick Jones
Even though many tackles have gone before this pick, Pittsburgh sees Broderick Jones just sitting there. He could be a viable choice at 17, but the Steelers trade back and still get a day one starter at left tackle for this group. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan were at the Georgia pro day, and many have speculated that they could be highly interested in this player.
He is a huge prospect that moves well for the position. Dan Moore Jr. cannot be the only option at the left tackle spot on the offensive line. Adding Jones here at the very least brings in a player to challenge Moore for his starting spot in camp. The rookie would likely win that spot during the pre-season process and protect Kenny Pickett's blindside moving forward.
Steelers mock draft round 2: DT Mazi Smith
Day two comes and the Steelers have the top pick to kick things off. Some trade calls came filtering in, but the club decides to stand pat and take Mazi Smith out of Michigan. He is a huge defensive lineman coming out of the collegiate ranks and could be a massive addition to help this club stop the run.
Smith is not a finished product by any means, but he has a lot of upside to work with. He lined up all over the trenches during his time at Michigan, which is a great thing to have on your resume entering the draft. Pittsburgh would likely have him in a nose tackle role to start his career, before giving him a bigger spot as his development progressed. Larry Ogunjobi was just re-signed so taking someone with a high ceiling is not the worst idea in the world.
Steelers mock draft round 2: LB Nick Herbig
Some question if Nick Herbig can be an every down edge rusher at the next level, and that is a fair question that continues to be evaluated. The Steelers take him to be an off-ball linebacker coming into the NFL, and the group gets a destructive freak on defense. He is not going to be at a T.J. Watt level, no one will be coming out of the draft this year.
Herbig is a disruptive force that can make plays around the ball. His position flexibility will also allow the black and gold some extra creativity when it comes to their defensive schematics. His older brother is Nate Herbig, whom the Steelers just signed in free agency. Tomlin loves to have football families on his roster and adding Herbig here makes a lot of sense.
Steelers mock draft round 3: CB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
Another football family here as Tre'Vius Hodges Tomlinson is the nephew of Hall of Fame running back LaDanian Tomlinson. Mike Tomlin loves the football family connection, and this corner would fit perfectly for what the Steelers are currently looking for. They need a guy that can play slot corner and is not afraid to attack the run. Hodges-Tomlinson would be a great value at this point in the draft and can start day one in the slot with Levi Wallace and Patrick Peterson being the two outside corners on defense.
Steelers mock draft round 3: S Jammie Robinson
Another highly valuable selection here as many project Jammie Robinson to potentially go earlier on day two of the draft. He falls to Pittsburgh's pick here and will slot into the starting strong safety spot with the future of Terrell Edmunds still up in the air upon writing this article. Robinson is not huge, but he has high athleticism and is not afraid to get physical. He should be able to take over the starting duties without much competition on the roster currently besides Damontae Kazee potentially.
Steelers mock draft round 4: WR Parker Washington
Receiver has been neglected in free agency to this point, so it is possible that the Steelers draft at the position again. Calvin Austin III should get a crack at the starting job in the slot, but he cannot be your only option. Parker Washington is the pick here as he has a lot of playing experience during his days at Penn State. He has lined up all over the field and can also provide competition as a returner on special teams. Nice selection here as he can challenge as a starter in two phases of football.
Steelers mock draft round 5: TE Zack Kuntz
No, Zack Kuntz is not related to Christian Kuntz. There is no family connection here that would tempt Tomlin again. The Steelers need to find a way to add a third or second tight end to the roster this offseason. It seems more likely that they will add to the position in the draft rather than the free agency period of the offseason. They take Kuntz here, who would have had a higher draft stock if he didn't get knocked out of his final season so early with injury.
Steelers mock draft round 7: QB Aidan O'Connell
Almost impossible to imagine Aidan O'Connell lasting until the seventh round of the upcoming draft. He is not on the same level as these top tier quarterbacks of this class, but he should develop into a quality backup option in the NFL. The Steelers are pleased to take O'Connell and develop him behind Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky for the upcoming season. The quarterback prices are too expensive to add one in free agency but drafting a developmental prospect in the late rounds of the draft seems more likely than not.
Steelers mock draft round 7: OC Jake Andrews
Herbig was signed to push Kevin Dotson for his starting spot, but the interior of the offensive line could use some more depth. Jake Andrews is the final selection here as he looks to fight for one of the last spots on the roster. He is not going to wow many people with his game, but he has a ton of starting experience from his college days. Andrews is a center through and through and would be a nice addition to be a backup option behind Mason Cole moving forward.