The Pittsburgh Steelers are training together officially for the first time in 2023 at the team facility. Just days from now, the team will be adding some new faces to the franchise at the NFL Draft, if it falls the way The Athletic's draft expert Dane Brugler sees it. Steeler fans should be a pretty happy bunch come April 27.
Erin Sullivan | Onward State
Joey Porter Jr. jams Rutgers wide receiver at the line of scrimmage
The national writer covering the draft didn't include any predicted trades, saying it's challenging enough doing 259 picks for 32 teams, though the Steelers have been quite involved in trade talks which is something to consider. In the first round, Brugler couldn't resist the bloodlines and had the team taking his third-ranked cornerback in his "The Beast" rankings, Joey Porter Jr. Brugler sees "clear bust potential," but his physical traits make him an intriguing prospect. Can newly signed veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson and former longtime defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin help Porter reach his full potential?
Jordan McKendrick | Florida Gators
O'Cyrus Torrence leads through the hole against the South Florida Bulls in a home game in 2022
In the second round, Brugler has the Steelers continuing to beef up their offensive line. He has them taking his second-ranked guard O'Cyrus Torrence from the Florida Gators with their first pick in the round and getting his sixth-ranked tackle Dawand Jones of Ohio State at pick 49. Torrence matches up with the profile general manager Omar Khan has brought in so far, and "fits the mold" for what Pittsburgh wants to do running the football according to Brugler. Jones is falling down draft boards and the Steelers were reportedly unimpressed at his pro day, but as Brugler's sixth-ranked tackle, he could be a good value pick later in the round.
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Siaki Ika (#62) celebrates a stop against Texas Tech.
In the third round, Brugler found another value pick for the Steelers at defensive tackle nabbing his sixth-ranked player at the position, Siaki Ika of Baylor. The redshirt junior has great size and is great at disrupting plays.
Steelers Look To Fill Needs With Some Darts In Later Rounds
Pittsburgh still has some other spots on the roster that either need filling or need more depth, and to that end, Brugler has the Steelers addressing wide receiver, fullback, and edge rusher with their final picks of the draft.
The team has high hopes for Calvin Austin III, but he has yet to play a snap in a regular season game, so more competition makes sense and Brugler grabbed Charlie Jones of Purdue. The team hosted the tremendous returner in college and was a safety blanket receiver for a pre-draft visit, so they have an interest.
JORDAN SCHOFIELD / STEELERNATION (TWITTER: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Derek Watt remains a free agent and the Steelers may look for a younger option.
With their first pick in the seventh round, Brugler has the team replacing Derek Watt, who according to reports, hasn't been offered a contract. Hunter Luepke of North Dakota State has a skillset the Steelers would be interested in to fill that role, depending on how the team wants to use Connor Heyward. He would be a "great fit because of his pass-catching skills and potential special-teams impact," Brugler wrote.
To end the draft, Brugler has the team selecting edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. of Georgia to add some depth behind TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. He's a raw prospect, according to Brugler, but his size and speed along with his splash-play ability make him worth a last-day gamble.
So, Steeler Nation, how do you like this mock? What did Brugler get right? What did he get wrong? Comment below!
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