With the NFL Combine now behind us, I've continued to dive even deeper into the tape of dozens of 2023 NFL Draft prospects. In mock drafts, fans and writers always seem to peg the same few players and positions to the Pittsburgh Steelers early in the draft.
But what's the best possible scenario that could potentially play out for the Steelers? Answering this question requires many assumptions about which players will be available for each of their early picks.
Though Pro Days could still alter draft boards in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, we have a great idea of which positions are strong this year. Here's the perfect two-round scenario for the Steelers in the 2023 draft.
Steelers round 1 (17th overall): OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be the only team out there who doesn't understand the value of having great offensive tackles. In today's passing league, you can make an argument that they are second to only quarterbacks in terms of their impact on the team.
Taking a cornerback here seems to be the most popular pick, and it is a very strong CB class. However, the OT talent is projected to take a significant drop by the time Pittsburgh's next selection comes along at the top of the second round.
Just looking at how the draft board will lay out, there will be no wide receiver, offensive guard, linebacker, or safety worth taking here. There's a case to be made that edge defender and tight end could be the best overall players on the board when the Steelers are on the clock, but not enough to deter them from an important position like OT.
Broderick Jones and Paris Johnson Jr. are the only true left tackle prospects in this draft, and these aren't easy to come by. Jones is raw, but he's a perfect fit for Pittsburgh's offense and the sky is the limit of his ceiling. Taking the OT at pick 17 will give the Steelers their blindside protector of the future.