With officially a week away until the 2023 NFL Draft, betting sites have began to release odds for each team’s picks, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. After consulting with people around the league, Bookies.com's Adam Thompson compiled odds for Pittsburgh's first pick in the upcoming draft. With the 17th overall pick, they've been connected to several prospects in the pre-draft process.
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Joey Porter Jr. high points the football to record a pass deflection in a game against Purdue
As expected, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is listed as the favorite for the Steelers’ 17th pick with odds at +250. He may not make it to Pittsburgh, as the Washington Commanders have shown serious interest at 16. Not only are the Steelers intrigued in his immense talent at a serious position of need, but the family ties make the pick even more likely.
Just behind Porter, another cornerback slots in with +350 odds in Illinois' Devon Witherspoon. He's regarded as a top-two CB in this draft class, so he's perhaps even less likely to fall to 17. Most of the other names on this list make sense and fill obvious needs. Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright met with the Steelers on Tuesday, and he’s been mocked to the team quite frequently recently.
Wright comes in at No. 3 on the list, with Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks rounding out the top-five. Perhaps the most surprising inclusion from this list would be the guy listed sixth, which is Arkansas off-ball linebacker Drew Sanders. While the team has shown some interest in linebackers in the pre-draft process, like Iowa’s Jack Campbell and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson, picking one with the 17th overall pick would be a shock to many.
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University of Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks puts his hands up in the air as his team faces the University of Wisconsin.
While Sanders did meet with the Steelers at the Combine in Indianapolis, the two sides didn't link back up for a pre-draft top-30 visit. Linebacker has become a less of a need since Indianapolis, as the front office signed two key veteran linebackers. Still, linebacker could still be in play, but Sanders would likely be available with either of their picks in the second round. That makes the selection of him at 17 quite interesting and unlikely.
Who do you want to see the Steelers take at 17?
Now on the flip side, the most surprising omission from this list would be Alabama safety Brian Branch. After Terrell Edmunds signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, safety became a prevalent need for the black and gold. The signing of Keanu Neal helped the position, but they could still use a long-term option at the position alongside superstar Minkah Fitzpatrick. Branch has seen his draft stock rise over the last few months, as he’s regarded as easily the best safety in the class.
What are your thoughts on these odds for the Steelers' 17th overall pick? Would Sanders at 17 be a massive reach? What are your thoughts on Porter's transition to the next level? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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