Despite the signings of a few interior linemen, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have needs along the offensive line. Particularly, the team seems open to upgrading the tackle positions, whether it be at the expense of Dan Moore Jr. or Chukwuma Okorafor. That has led to the interest in the top tackles of the 2023 NFL Draft class, whether it be the two guys from Ohio State or Georgia’s Broderick Jones.
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Steelers could look to upgrade one of their tackle positions, which means Chukwuma Okorafor's spot could be in jeopardy.
One guy has seemingly got lost in the shuffle a little bit, and that’s Northwestern lineman Peter Skoronski. In most mock drafts, he’s been selected in the first 10 picks. In CBS Sports’ recent mock draft that was uploaded on Wednesday, that was not the case. In fact, Chris Trapasso has the Steelers as the the ones taking Skoronski with the 17th overall pick.
"The Steelers go with the super-versatile Skoronski with some of the cleanest pass-protection film in the class," Trapasso said.
Skoronski enjoyed a very successful three-year collegiate career, as he built quite the resume. He started right away as a true freshman for the Wildcats, and he made the All-Big Ten Second Team in the process. The lineman proceeded to make the All-Big Ten First Team in his final two years, including becoming a unanimous First Team All-American in 2022.
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Northwestern Wildcats offensive lineman Peter Skoronski (77) prepares to block against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium.
When it comes to his NFL prospects, there seem to be different answers around the league, as several scouts and executives view him as a guard in the NFL. Tackle-to-guard transitions are common for linemen making the jump to the NFL, so that may not be the main worry. Skoronski has plenty of attributes that would leave people to believe that he’ll be successful at either tackle or guard.
When should the Steelers select a WR?
For the Steelers though, selecting him may not make a ton of sense. That’s unless the front office views him as a tackle still. Trapasso filled out the next two rounds, which features three more Steelers picks. In order, he had the black and gold picking up North Carolina wideout Josh Downs, Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, and finally, Minnesota center John Michael Schmitz.
Earlier this week, the Steelers scouting department walked away extremely impressed from Downs' Pro Day. After an uber-productive collegiate career in the ACC, they were impressed with the wideout's quickness and route-running. Next, Kancey has some concerns at the NFL level due to size, but he was quite good in the ACC as well. He would bring more depth to a defensive line that desperately needs just that.
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Lastly, Schmitz is a pick that would make a ton of sense in the third round. The Steelers have shown interest in him in the pre-draft process, as he's regarded as the best center in this year's class. While center may not necessarily be a need in the starting lineup, he could push Mason Cole for the job in a year or two. The possible additions of Skoronski and Schmitz would only fortify the offensive line's depth heading into 2023. Perhaps most interestingly, Trapasso doesn't have Pittsburgh taking a cornerback in the first three rounds.
Do you think the team should draft the Northwestern lineman if he falls to 17? How happy would you be with this three-round draft haul? Would it be a huge mistake avoiding the selection of a cornerback early? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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