The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone and it proved to be one of the most exciting ones in recent history for the Pittsburgh Steelers. General Manager Omar Khan had big shoes to fill following Kevin Colbert's tenure, but it's safe to say that he exceeded expectations. Labeling him as the "Khan artist," fans and players alike are overjoyed with the 2023 draft class.
GENE J. PUSKAR/ASSOCIATED
Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II with the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2023 first-round draft pick, Broderick Jones.
Let's Break The Steelers' Decision Down
The Steelers went in with a bang on day one of the 2023 NFL Draft. Trading away the #17 and #120 picks, the Steelers acquired the 14th overall pick from the New England Patriots. This pick was used to select offensive lineman Broderick Jones from the University of Georgia. Had the Steelers not traded up, the New York Jets would have likely selected Jones. For the first time, it feels like we can say thank you to Bill Belichick.
While Jones was a strong pickup, the Joey Porter Jr fans were disappointed, as he had been a long-time favorite for the Steelers' first-round pick. In a shocking turn of events, Porter Jr slipped out of the first round and was available at the start of Day 2. This left Khan and company with a difficult decision to make. Despite the plentiful phone calls and trade requests, Pittsburgh opted to bring Porter Jr back home with the 32nd pick. In addition to Jones and Porter Jr, the Steelers picked up Keeanu Benton and Darnell Washington to round out Day 2.
KYLE NELSON, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. speaking with the press after being selected at pick 32 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Washington, the massive tight end out of Georgia, was not a needy position for the Steelers, but the opportunity felt too good to pass up at pick #93. Khan elaborated on the decision to pick Washington.
"We thought very highly of him. Honestly, (we) did not expect him to be sitting there. Just our gain."
ICON SPORTSWIRE
Darnell Washington, the Pittsburgh Steelers' 93rd pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Washington has been commended for his blocking abilities, physicality, speed and athleticism. The tight end would've gone far earlier if teams hadn't had an injury concern. The Steelers, however, have seen this play out before when selecting stud receiver George Pickens in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickens was a first-round talent disregarded due to injury, and it worked out for the Steelers. It appears as though history repeats itself, with cornerback Patrick Peterson even labeling Washington as the steal of the draft. Despite the praise from players, media and fans, CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco had a different opinion in his latest Draft recap.
"I didn't like the pick of Darnell Washington in the third round. I just don't think he's sudden enough, and he has knee issues. Please put weight on him and make him a tackle. He can be Jason Peters 2.0."
Steelers' Low-Risk, High Reward
Though Prisco wasn't a fan of the pick, Steeler Nation shouldn't let this feedback concern us. Securing a borderline first-round pick during the late third round is an achievement, let alone selecting Washington, a one-of-a-kind talent. The value of this pick is unbelievable. If he doesn't work out, the Steelers have only sacrificed a third-rounder, but if he does, the sky is the limit. Here at Steeler Nation, we're confident that other teams will regret their decision not to pick him up when they had the chance.
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