With the 2023 NFL Draft just a few short weeks away, the Pittsburgh Steelers are putting their finishing touches on their pre-draft interviews and Pro Days. The Steelers currently own two of the first 32 picks in the draft, which in most seasons would be two first-round picks. Many experts are speculating the Steelers to take an offensive tackle to help solidify the offensive line and give second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett some sense of stability on his blindside, while others are thinking that they will try to find a lockdown cornerback, something the Steelers have struggled to find in years past.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) throws a deep ball down the sidelines while warming up for a 2022 matchup. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
In recent days, it has been confirmed that the Steelers are interested in acquiring the 9th overall pick in the first round of this year's upcoming draft from the Chicago Bears (the same team the Steelers acquired the 32nd pick from in exchange for receiver Chase Claypool). The Steelers would likely have to send the 17th pick along with Pick 32 or 49 to the Bears in return.
There are many reasons why the Steelers might be interested in moving up to number 9. The first is the fact that most of the first few picks in the first round will likely be quarterbacks and if the Steelers can get inside the top 10, they will essentially be able to pick up one of the most talented players in the entire draft outside of the quarterback position. This will also give them a chance to select one of the top offensive tackle or cornerback prospects in the draft, both of which are desperate needs.
The other reason the Steelers may be looking to trade into the top 10 is due to the buzz of the Bears being interested in drafting Peter Skoronski, one of the top offensive tackle prospects the draft has seen in quite some time. With Northwestern being right down the road from Soldier Field, it seems like Skoronski is all but staying in the Windy City to start his NFL career if the Bears in fact hold onto their top 10 pick.
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The final possible scenario is that Steelers' assistant general manager, Andy Weidl may have a pulse on what the Philadelphia Eagles will be doing with the 10th pick. Weidl, who was formerly with the Eagles, helped build a Super Bowl team in 2018 and also had fingerprints all over the most recent Eagles team who made it to the Super Bowl in 2022. One area where both of those Eagles teams thrived was in the trenches, most notably the offensive line. With the Eagles' offensive line starting to age, it might be in their deck of cards during the draft to select an offensive tackle ahead of the Steelers.
Pittsburgh sports commentator Andrew Fillipponi touched on this during his afternoon show the The PM Team on 93.7 The Fan and gave his thoughts on to why the Steelers may try to trade up to pick number 9.
"I think it would be to move ahead of Philadelphia... Weidl is going to know the Eagles inside and out... They got a really good o-line, but they got an old o-line."
Is It Worth It For The Steelers To Trade Up To Pick No. 9?
In the grand scheme of things, when you look at the Steelers' roster on both sides of the ball, they have plenty of holes to fill. Some of them are far more important than others, but nothing is more important than protecting your young franchise quarterback.
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With that being said, the Steelers need to have one particular prospect in mind if they plan to trade up and it has to be someone that has been traced to the Bears or Eagles. There are plenty of offensive tackles in the draft class that have the possibility of being the long-term solution for the Steelers such as Skoronski, Broderick Jones or Paris Johnson Jr. The Steelers definitely need to feel as if "their guy" will be taken before they are on the clock, otherwise they would be better off waiting until pick 17 to make their selection at tackle.
It is without a doubt the Steelers need to draft a tackle and replace Dan Moore Jr. on the offensive line, but they need to make sure they aren't sacrificing the improvement of other needs on this team to do so.
What do you think? Are you worried the Bears or Eagles might select the player on the top of the Steelers' draft board? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!
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