The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have the #17 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. That pick puts them nearly dead center of the first round and will leave them with plenty of great players to choose from when it's their turn to pick. But pick #17 just might not be high enough for the player they're targeting. There will still be plenty of viable options at positions such as cornerback, defensive line and outside linebacker when the Steelers come onto the clock, but the one position that could have no first-round potential left is offensive tackle.
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Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson Jr. has seen his draft stock fall a bit over the last year.
The Steelers have spent all offseason revamping one of the worst offensive lines in football. And that started with replacing left guard Kevin Dotson. From there they continued to bolster their depth at the interior line and added one depth player at tackle. But they didn't sign a single player to compete with left tackle Dan Moore Jr. A big problem for the Steelers was that there just weren't that many left tackles available that would've been a significant upgrade to Moore. They were reportedly outbid while trying to sign star tackle Orlando Brown Jr and did speak to long-time veteran Taylor Lewan but his health was still an issue according to sources.
Now it appears that the big splash at left tackle may come on the first day of the NFL Draft. In an episode released on Monday, The Bootleg Football Podcast hosted by Brett Kollmann and EJ Snyder revealed that the Steelers and Chicago Bears have had discussions about a trade involving the ninth overall pick which originally belonged to the Carolina Panthers before they traded it to Chicago in a deal for the first overall pick.
"Bears Steelers is possible," host EJ Snyder revealed. "They've talked about it. I know they've talked about it. It's by no means is a sure [thing]. Trust me every team is talking to every other team 'hey, if we were going to come up, if we were going to go down, what could we get, what would you give up?' So it's not any kind of indicator that it's bound to happen, but they have had that discussion. You know the most likely connect the dots moment is that Pittsburgh needs an offensive tackle, and they go up for one because there is one, they like that'll be gone by the time they pick at 17."
There are a handful of potential tackles the Steelers could love that would make them want to move up to #9. Ohio States' Paris Johnson, Georgia's Broderick Jones or Northwestern's Peter Skoronski. The team also reportedly loves Darnell Wright from Tennessee, but it's likely he will still be on the board for the Steelers to pick at #17.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports
Top left tackle prospect and former Georgia offensive lineman, Broderick Jones (#59) celebrates after a big play for the Bulldogs. |
Head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan had a dinner date with Johnson and some of the other Ohio State offensive linemen. A dinner with a player is usually an indication that the team is very interested. Last year while doing their due diligence with the quarterback class they had meals with five of the top quarterbacks.
Steelers Need A Trade Partner That Wants More Picks
The Steelers making a deal with the Bears makes a lot of sense for both sides. Pittsburgh would be able to come up and grab potentially the top tackle in the draft and the Bears could add more picks to help revamp a really bad roster.
"[Ryan] Poles knows he needs a lot of players," Snyder continued. "And moving down from 9 to 17 still gets him a good one plus some additional picks where ever they negotiate. So there is an example of where it would work for both sides meaning it's possible."
What Would The Steelers Have To Give Up?
Obviously, the huge downside to moving up eight spots is that you are going to have to give up some good picks to make it happen. For the Steelers, a package would likely have to include pick #49 and likely a selection from the 2024 NFL Draft. Worst case scenario it would include their first second-round pick which they received from the Bears in the Chase Claypool trade.
AP
Steelers trade up to select linebacker Devin Bush
Back in 2019, everyone remembers that the Steelers made what turned out to be a horrible trade-up to select Devin Bush. The Steelers acquired the 10th pick from the Denver Broncos in exchange for the Steelers' 2019 first and second-round picks (Nos. 20 and 52) and a 2020 third-round pick.
Do you believe the Steelers should trade up? Let us know in the comments below.
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