The Pittsburgh Steelers are in uncharted waters. The team stands at 2-6 as they rest at home for their Week 9 bye as any hope for the season is almost diminished. Because of that, fans and media alike start to look ahead to the next young wave of college players that are ready to show what they've got in the NFL.
Steelers fans are smart enough to know the positions of need on this team (there are quite a few) and will start looking for the teams of the best position prospects on Saturday's just for the potential that they can bring the same quality of play in the league for the black and yellow.
That is where I come in with this article as I discuss three potential Steelers draft selections for next year's draft.
And hey, who knows, maybe this can turn into a weekly series. Is it already draft season??
BUT FIRST! A quick disclaimer.
Steelers Best Case Scenario: QB Needy Team Overpays for a Top 5 Selection
Everyone hears the calls for the Steelers to punt on rookie QB Kenny Pickett for a dynamic, higher upside quarterback from this upcoming class. But let's be real about this; the Steelers will not pick a QB with their first round pick next year. It's like beating a dead horse at this point, but it is just not the Steeler way. Dumping on a rookie QB after an awful season surrounded by little talent is the last thing Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the Steelers brass will do, despite what Ryan Clark says.
Now let's get into it.
OT Peter Skoronski, Junior, Northwestern
Peter Skoronski is everything you want in an offensive tackle. Skoronski has started every game since he walked on campus as a freshman for Northwestern. The former five star commit can even play inside (showcased ability to play center in high school) and is raised in a football family (grandfather played for Vince Lombardi and served as a captain for all five NFL championships in Green Bay. Skoronski's fundamentals immediately pop out when you watch him play, as he is stellar in keeping his center of gravity throughout a pass rush and keeps his foot movement very fluid in order to avoid a posture breakdown. One of the best tackle prospects in the draft.
IDL Jalen Carter, Junior, Georgia
In order for the Steelers to land someone as good as Jalen Carter, they're going to have to be pretty bad. Carter is almost a lock of a top five pick as he is undoubtedly the top interior defensive linemen prospect. Incredibly athletic and physical, Carter's instinctive first-step quickness is a problem for any college interior offensive lineman. He can play along the entire line (Georgia plays him at 1-tech, 2i, 3-tech, and 5-tech) and has the power and hand counters to muddle the backfield consistently with a relentless motor. The Steelers interior defensive line woes, including the run defense, immediately gets erased with a player like Jalen Carter.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 03: Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) tries to fight through a double-team block during the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game against the Oregon Ducks on September 3, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CB Joey Porter Jr., Junior, Penn State
Talk about a Steelers type of pick. Joey Porter Jr. has been nothing short of fantastic during his time at Penn State under Coach James Franklin. The son of Steelers great Joey Porter, Porter Jr. has the tangible tools and athletic prowess to be an NFL starting cornerback. Porter Jr. is one of the longest CB's in the country, constantly disrupting passes with his reach. His experience at Penn State has been a little limited compared to other cornerbacks who are ready to go to the draft, but the untapped potential is unquestionably there. His tackling is above average with a long reach and he has the ability to go stride for stride with any college receiver.
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 22: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 22, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
What do you think, #SteelerNation? Is it time to buy into draft season? What prospects should I talk about next? Do you think any of these guys could be a good fit in the black and yellow? What prospects do you want the Steelers to draft? Let me know in the comments below or @anthonyravasio on Twitter.
