Top 5 draft picks Steelers can select to replace Dan Moore, Chukwuma Okorafor

1. Steelers could draft Paris Johnson Jr. to replace Moore

Paris Johnson Jr. is widely regarded as one of, if not the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnson was a five-star recruit, the #1 OT prospect in the 2020 class, and the #1 recruit out of Ohio. He started at multiple positions (LT, RG) for the Buckeyes over the last two years.

While Johnson was reliable and solid for Ohio State, he still has yet to develop into an overwhelmingly dominant blocker. He has all the physical and athletic gifts to become an elite offensive tackle and is pretty technically refined. But all the puzzle pieces have yet to click together perfectly for Johnson. 

Nevertheless, left tackles with great size (6’6”, 313 lbs, 36”+ arms, 85”+ wingspan), great athleticism, and the refinement to be consistently successful against great competition don’t grow on trees. If Pittsburgh is set on Johnson, they would most likely need to trade up to get him.

Per a report from EJ Snyder of Bootleg Football, there have been reports of the Bears and Steelers exploring another trade, where essentially the two teams swap first- and second-round picks. Pittsburgh is armed with ammunition they rarely possess to execute a trade-up for a blue-chip prospect. Were they to execute such a move, even with the coaching staff’s affinity for Dan Moore, it’s hard to imagine he would end up being the Week 1 starter over Johnson.