The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has been excoriated for the last two seasons by the national media. Any pundit who actually takes a moment to discuss the Steelers blames the line for every offensive problem the team has. Najee Harris struggles, it’s the offensive line. The Steelers don’t have time to throw down the field, it’s the offensive line. In 2021 it was true they struggled, but last season they were a lot better than people think.
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It is mock draft season and the Steelers are being linked to cornerbacks and offensive tackles in the first round of the upcoming draft and those are both positions of need. The Steelers should address their secondary with one of the three top 50 picks they have and the list of top cornerbacks available is very deep. However, could the Steelers wait to select an offensive lineman until the third round? It just might be a viable strategy.
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore, Jr.
Dan Moore Jr. has struggled at left tackle against anyone not named Myles Garrett, but he is still young and developing and he could move inside to challenge Kevin Dotson at guard. He provides quality depth at tackle, but he is not the long-term answer for Kenny Pickett’s blind side and it appears that the Steelers know it.
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The best tackle in the draft Peter Skoronski will not be available by pick 17 which still leaves the Steelers with some quality options in the first and second rounds. The recent Super Bowl proved that a literal giant at left tackle, Orlando Brown Jr. may be the best protection you can get for a franchise quarterback. The NFL Is a copycat league and a pair of giants who are similar in size to Brown are likely to be available in the third round of the NFL draft.
Pro Football Focus currently ranks a pair of 6'8" tackles as the seventh and tenth-best players available in the 2023 draft at the position. Blake Freeland from BYU and Dawand Jones from Ohio State are very similar in stature to Brown and could pay huge dividends for Pickett this season. Both players have issues that can be fixed at the pro level with work.
Freeland is very nimble but at 305 lbs, he needs to add 10-20 pounds of muscle. He is a very good pass blocker but could struggle in driving people back in the running game. Adding a few pounds of muscle should not impact his speed and it will be the reason he is available in the third or possibly even the fourth round. The Steelers could just stick him in a gym with James Harrison for a month and find themselves with a franchise left tackle.
Jones is the opposite case. He is one of the biggest men you will ever see on a football field at 359 lbs but he is a little too slow to be a top prospect. He barely makes the top ten on Pro Football Focus because they are concerned if he can handle the speed rush he will see in the NFL. Jones could drop 10-15 pounds and lighten his frame a bit to pick up some agility. Jones is a beast in the running game and has good technique against bull rushers, but he has to get nimbler to be great.
Karl Roser Pittsburgh Steelers
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Both players would be a risk based on their need to improve but Moore’s presence on the team could ease their transition if they begin slowly. The Steelers' offensive line was playing very well at the end of last season and these two monsters could end up being grand slams for the black and gold in the long run. The Steelers have other holes to fill at very expensive positions and if they can get a franchise left tackle in the third round to protect Pickett, they should consider taking the chance.
What do you think Steeler Nation? If the Steelers can’t get Skoronski, should they wait and take a giant? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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