We're finally just days away from the Pittsburgh Steelers' 17th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. There's been months of speculation on several different players with the 17th pick. Their needs have changed over time as well, due to General Manager Omar Khan making several signings in free agency. In a press conference on Monday morning, head coach Mike Tomlin said they have talked to more prospects than ever before.
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today Sports
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands before a group of media members at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN.
It signified a few different things, most notably that Khan is doing things a little bit differently than former GM Kevin Colbert. Additionally though, the team finally has a plethora of early picks. That leads to the possibility of more trades, something Khan and Tomlin discussed. One player that has been connected to the black and gold throughout the process has been Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
While the team signed Patrick Peterson in free agency, that is only seen as a temporary move given he is 32 years old. If you didn't know by now, Peterson has a podcast 'All Things Covered' with fellow former Steeler DB Bryant McFadden. Porter appeared on the podcast and admitted that he would love to team up with the eight-time Pro Bowler in Pittsburgh, something that is certainly a possibility.
"That would be dope [to team up]. I already know you got a lot of knowledge on the game, and I'm just going to be asking you a lot of questions if that happens. That would be exciting," Porter said on All Things Covered.
Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated Press
Steelers CB Patrick Peterson will have a big role on the team, particularly passing his leadership onto the younger players.
Peterson still has plenty of game left, but he will also provide a ton of leadership for Pittsburgh's defense. It's definitely something Porter has already envisioned, given the heavy mutual interest between the two sides. His father played for the franchise in the 2000's, making the connection obvious right away, along with the need for a cornerback. Bookies.com's Adam Thompson recently put together his own list of odds for the Steelers' 17th pick.
Will Porter end up with the Steelers?
Unsurprisingly, Porter was atop the list with the most likely draft pick at +250 odds. Now, some other teams may get in between this possible connection actually coming to fruition. The Washington Commanders have shown a ton of interest in the cornerback in the pre-draft process, and they have the 16th overall pick.
SCOTT TAETSCH / GETTY IMAGES
Steelers remain a possible destination for Penn State star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Additionally, it will come down to what strategy the Steelers front office goes with. They may just go with the best player available on the board at 17. They could opt to go for the position of the most need, which could be seen as offensive tackle. We all know they've been in discussions for trading up (and trading down) as well, so anything can happen at this point. Porter to the Steelers still remains a real possibility though, and it's clear that he would be happy with that.
What do you think the front office ends up doing on Thursday? Would you like to see Porter become a Steeler? How much help would Peterson be for Porter in Pittsburgh? As always, share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
#SteelerNation
