With Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Dan Moore Jr. being one of the biggest question marks going into next season, there are many speculations that the Steelers could look toward the offensive line in this year's draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle, Dan Moore Jr. walks on the field at St. Vincent College during 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Set the Steelers up to bring in a key left tackle
One of the big hitters in the free agency for the Steelers is the interior offensive line, bringing in the likes of Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig. This could possibly set the Steelers up to bring in a key left tackle and strengthen that offensive line for the future. One of the potential options is using pick 17 to take the best available tackle, but the only way I see this happening is if there are three guys on the board. The big three that I have on my big board are Peter Skoronski, Paris Johnson Jr., and Broderick Jones. I could also see the Steelers making a risky move and taking a shot at Darnell Wright if they really want to focus on that tackle position.
If none of those three are on the board, I find it highly unlikely that they go early with offensive tackle. There is one player however that during day three I would not mind if the Steelers stuck to their roots and went with them.
Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio/AP Photo
Ohio State offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.'s foundation won the 2022 Armed Forces Merit Award. Johnson, one of the nation's top offensive linemen, is a Princeton High School graduate.
University of Pittsburgh offensive tackle, Carter Warren could be a potential late-round guy that the Steelers pick up. Warren was a three-year captain and a starter at Pittsburgh. His draft stock was rising before going into the 2023 season and looked like promising potential, till he suffered a season-ending injury after tearing a meniscus.
Although suffering the season-ending injury, he already has experience blocking the blindside for the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Kenny Pickett. Together the two would go on to win the 2021 ACC Championship. So, why not bring back the connection between the two?
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Pitt offensive lineman Carter Warren playing in the 2021 ACC Championship where they won 45-21 against Wake Forest.
When taking a look at the film, he shows almost a veteran poise to his game and almost looks like he belongs as a top tackle in this year's draft. In the passing game, he looks great and like a top-notch guy. The one thing for him that scares me however is his strength. He looked almost weak in a sense and a season-ending injury that could become an even greater issue.
But if he puts in the work and gets some of that ground power down, he would be the perfect choice for one of the two seventh-round picks that the Steelers have and if they really like him, they could use pick 120 in the fourth round. It would set up a great rotation between him and Moore and could bring a needed competition for the starting tackle spot.
What I really love about him however, is his team-first mentality. He really brings out a Steeler attitude. During this year's combine, he was not able to compete due to his injury, but stated that he was screaming "Run, Run" for his Pitt teammates Calijah Kancey and Brandon Hill. The praise received by his teammates at Pitt is why he was selected as captain last year.
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Pitt offensive tackle Carter Warren in the 2021 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in which they lost to Michigan State.
So, what do you think Steeler Nation? Could Warren be a potential option for the Steelers? Let me know in the comments below!
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