Will the Pittsburgh Steelers trade up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft? Or could they potentially move back in order to gain more draft capital? What if the organization stays put at pick #17 and ends up with one of the top prospects in this class? There are so many options for the franchise in the first round and beyond. With the draft quickly approaching, simulations and mocks are flying in almost hourly. The general consensus for Pittsburgh seems to be an offensive lineman or cornerback in round one.
Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin stares into the distance with rain falling down during a 2022 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
One of the most recent mock drafts from an analyst was released on Tuesday morning. Peter Shrager of Good Morning Football announced his first one and it would be an absolute dream for Steelers fans. One of the best prospects in the entire draft on the offensive line ended up falling to Pittsburgh at 17.
Steelers Select Paris Johnson Jr. Without Having To Move Up In The First Round
Everyone has heard it at some point. Dan Moore Jr. doesn't appear to be the left tackle of the future for the organization. The team needs someone on the outside that can protect quarterback, Kenny Pickett for a decade and Johnson could very well be that guy if he ends up in the black and gold.
Shrager has five quarterbacks going in the top 12 (including recent riser, Hendon Hooker), which is one of the main reasons that Johnson fell to Pittsburgh in the middle of the first round. The Steelers ended up passing on cornerbacks, Joey Porter Jr. and Deonte Banks to take the mammoth blindside protector.
Ohio State offensive tackle, Paris Johnson Jr. blocks during a 2022 regular season game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium. | Photo Credit: Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
It would be shocking if Pittsburgh doesn't target an offensive tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft. Johnson Jr., along with top options Peter Skoronski, Broderick Jones and Darnell Wright, will probably all hear their names called in the first round. The key for the Steelers will be the right guy falling to 17 or they may have to wait until the second round to grab someone.
Taking a deeper look into things, the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets are all teams especially pay attention to when it comes to the offensive line. If one of these teams forgoes taking a lineman, it's very likely one of the top four ends up falling into Pittsburgh's lap.
This is one of the deepest cornerback classes in some time and there's going to be elite talent available when the 32nd overall pick comes around. It should be impossible for the Steelers to pass up a potential franchise left tackle if one is available when their first selection comes up.
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)
Shrager's mock draft would be an absolute steal for Pittsburgh. If Skoronski ends up playing guard at the professional level, Johnson Jr. may end up being the best left tackle to come out of this draft class. It would be appalling if he was on the board at #17 and the Steelers passed up on him.
Would you consider a selection of Johnson Jr. in the first round if he's available? Let us know in the comments below!
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