The NFL draft is upon us, and like Babe Ruth, I’m calling my shot. 2023 mock drafts are soon to be obsolete, so I wanted to take one last stab before the draft gets underway. Specifically with this version, I wanted to try and do my best to nail the Steelers picks.
This isn’t what I would necessarily do, but is instead my best guess as to what I think this team will try and do once the draft officially opens. I’m considering who they have shown interest in during the draft process as well as the needs the team seems to be targeting.
While I do think there is a good chance that the Steelers move around quite a bit on draft day, I am not going to project any trades in this mock. I will provide a few extra names in an “others considered” section, as I want to provide everyone with my opinions as to who this team is trying to get on draft day. With all of that said, here is my final attempt at a Steelers mock draft.
Steelers mock draft round 1: OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
While the general consensus is that the Steelers want to land either a tackle or cornerback with their top pick, I have a sneaky feeling that tackle is the true target. This team has done its due diligence on all of the top tackles but has seemingly looked into more of a variety of cornerbacks.
Three tackles make sense for pick 17, and I ultimately landed on Broderick Jones as the top selection for the Steelers. Jones is an athletic specimen that has the look of a franchise left tackle. He lacks experience, but in turn that gives him an edge as a developmental player. The team has been all over him in the pre-draft process, and I think they would be thrilled with him at pick 17.
Paris Johnson is the best overall tackle, but I find it hard to believe that he will be there given that status. Darnell Wright is also an option, but Jones has a much higher ceiling and seems like a more natural left tackle. Jones is at risk of going earlier, but if he is on the board, he seems like a likely pick.
Others Considered: OT Darnell Wright, CB Joey Porter Jr., DB Brian Branch
Steelers mock draft round 2: CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
Cam Smith doesn’t have as many indicators of a potential Steelers pick, but he still makes a lot of sense. A great 2021 season had many viewing Smith as the top cornerback in this class, but he came back to earth this past season. That said, he has the frame of an outside cornerback and tested well as an athlete.
Smith is an aggressive coverage player. He isn’t afraid to get physical at the catch point and either break up the pass or come down with the interception. Add in his frame and athleticism and you should have a viable outside cornerback.
Add in his physicality as a run defender and a blitzer and you also have an intriguing slot cornerback. It wasn’t a role that he often played in school, but it is something I can see him excelling at once in the pros.
The Steelers haven’t shown the most interest in Smith, but they have done some research around him with fellow South Carolina cornerback Darius Rush coming in for a visit. The team is usually blunt with who they want to draft, but occasionally they play the draft game and throw some smoke around, and I think they could be doing the same with Smith. JuJu Smith-Schuster also had little fanfare with the team before coming to the roster.
Smith has some of the best tape in the class from 2021, but his 2022 tape was a lot more average. The talent is there, and I think Smith could become one of the better cornerbacks in this class with the versatility to play inside and outside. While I have a suspicion that the Steelers are going to move back from this pick, Smith could be a sneaky candidate for pick 32.
Others considered: NT Mazi Smith, DE Bryan Bresee, OT Anton Harrison
Steelers mock draft round 2: OC John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
The Steelers seem very content to take a center-capable player early in the draft. Despite aggressively rebuilding the interior of this line over the past two offseasons, the team has continued to express interest in the top center prospects in this draft.
Pick 49 seems like a realistic spot to land their center if they so choose. This class is lacking an elite prospect, and even in the past, the top prospects end up falling. John Michael Schmitz is easily the most pro-ready prospect in this class, and he has the makings of a long career commanding the center of an offensive line.
I compare Michael Schmitz to Creed Humphrey from a few seasons ago. Both have the prototypical size you want along the interior and were experienced college players. Humphrey was the better athlete, but both are plug-and-play centers that should be good starters for a long time.
I’m not notably in favor of drafting a center this early given the lack of an immediate need, but this team seems focused on rebuilding their line. Personally, if the draft fell this way, I would try and trade Mason Cole, as getting Michael Schmitz on the field early makes sense given his age. No matter what, it seems like a center may join this team early in the draft process.
Others considered: IOL Steve Avila, CB Tyrique Stevenson, DL Keeanu Benton
Steelers mock draft round 3: DE Gervon Dexter, Florida
A holdover from my last mock draft (the one where I took control and did things how I wanted), Gervon Dexter is a hard name to figure out in this class. His tape is extremely mixed, as at times he looks like a dominant force and a monster at the defensive end. He lacks great technique though, and it has caused him to disappear from plays at times.
The Steelers defensive line has been lacking in recent years, and the group was in desperate need of an influx of talent. They have their starters in place, but Larry Ogunjobi was only a middling player and Cameron Heyward is getting extremely old. They need some new bodies added to this group that can develop into a starter.
Dexter is a good name for that role, as he needs some time to develop and grow into a role. He has the rare size this team covets in their ends and is only missing elite length to be a perfect fit in this defense. For a third-round pick, he has some serious potential, and he can grow into a starter under the teachings of Karl Dunbar and the tutelage of Heyward.
Others considered: OC Joe Tippman, CB Darius Rush, WR Jonathan Mingo
Steelers mock draft round 4: Brodric Martin, NT, Western Kentucky
Heading into the fourth round, the team will likely (and should) be less focused on needs and instead should be looking for the best values. Happily, they may be able to do both here, as they require a top nose tackle and can get one that could be a strong player in their defense.
Broderic Martin is quite the prospect. For those of you that liked Jordan Davis last year, you should love the idea of Martin. He is built in a similar mold as Davis, being just a massive human being with great length. He lacks the pro-readiness that Davis had, but he has the makings of a strong nose tackle if developed.
He is still very raw as a prospect that was dominant at times but also disappeared against middling competition. He has rare size but doesn’t always use it well, as he needs to play lower. He lacks a defined pass rush plan, but he has the ability to develop one in time. Karl Dunbar also was at his pro day, so there is some clear interest there.
Martin will need some time, but his raw strength can get him on the field early if he beats out the lackluster options on the roster. In time, if he develops properly, he can become a strong addition to this line. He will need a lot of work, but Martin could become an early steal for this team as a good nose tackle.
Others considered: S Anthony Johnson, WR Xavier Hutchinson, LB Dorian Williams
Steelers mock draft round 7: CB Rejzohn Wright, Oregon State
Cornerback is a very likely double-dip candidate, as this team is lacking both star power and depth at the position. Rejzohn Wright is one of the more interesting late-round candidates in a strong cornerback draft. He has rare size and decent athleticism to go along with strong coverage skills at times, but he is very raw and lacks the skills t play early.
He has the frame to contribute on special teams early, and in time he could develop into a capable cornerback. There is a lot of work to be done, but at worst he should be a fine gunner on special teams. He adds to the depth chart and gives this team another secondary piece to mold.
Steelers mock draft round 7: EDGE Robert Beal, Georgia
The Steelers round out the draft with another defender, this time an EDGE rusher that can hopefully add depth to the room. The team has brought Robert Beal in for a visit and had a heavy presence at the Georgia pro day. He has some limitations as a player, but he is a proper mold of a 3-4 edge rusher.
He isn’t a dynamic pass rusher and lacks a variety of moves to get after the quarterback, but he plays hard and has the drive you want in a later-round pick. If he gets better as a pass rusher, he can become a decent third edge rusher. If not, he may be stuck as a fourth option and special teams ace. Either way, there is value in adding him this late in the draft.
Others considered: S Daniel Scott, WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, QB Clayton Tune
That wraps it up, and I feel like the draft will fall in a similar way. While there may be trades and some different names, I expect to see quite a few names off this mock (both as picks and others considered) to be Steelers by the time the draft finishes this week.