Over the past few weeks, Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez has seen his stock continue to rise. At this point, he's a surefire first-round pick and may not even make it out of the top-10. With the Steelers' first-round pick coming at No. 17, they may not have an opportunity to land the talented DB. If he is somehow available with the 17th pick though, he will almost certainly be in consideration.
Photo Credit: The Denver Gazette
Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez is an appealing option for the Steelers with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, if he's available.
More praise for Steelers HC Mike Tomlin
The team has formally met with Gonzalez, and he is a consensus top-three cornerback in this year's class, an obvious need for the Steelers defense. When speaking to reporters on Thursday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, Gonzalez revealed who has been his favorite NFL coach in this pre-draft process. The Oregon cornerback had this to say about Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin via Aditi Kinkhabwala of CBS Sports:
Mike Tomlin is winning the combine. Superstar CB Christian Gonzalez is yet another DB to say his favorite coach to talk to here has been the #Steelers head man. He called Tomlin “real” and “relatable” - and said he called his dad to say he’s even cooler than they thought.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 2, 2023
This comes as no surprise, as it's become a common theme in Indianapolis already this week. Several draft-eligible players have praised Tomlin on how good of coach and person he is. This kind of connection certainly helps when it comes to the time of the draft, as Tomlin can provide his own personal input on the individual players. The team will almost certainly be drafting a cornerback with one of their top-three picks, especially if Cam Sutton leaves via free agency.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin has always been praised for his ability to connect with players.
That's why the front office is meeting with so many cornerbacks this week, as it's a huge need. ESPN's Todd McShay recently had Gonzalez going to the Steelers in his mock draft. He cited the Oregon cornerback as the "perfect replacement" in the case Sutton does leave Pittsburgh after six seasons. Several other mock drafts have had Gonzalez going to the Steelers recently, while Joey Porter Jr. remains the most popular pick.
Now remember, several fans around the city of Pittsburgh have called for Tomlin's job over the years. While he hasn't had the playoff success recently, he remains one of the best in the business. It goes beyond reasons on the field as well, as he's always been known as the perfect "players coach."
Which cornerback do you prefer: Gonzalez or Porter Jr.? Have you ever been on the "fire Tomlin" train? How much stock do you put into what goes on in Indianapolis each year? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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