Steelers Just Got So Much Better in NFL Draft
PITTSBURGH -- The 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, well, they impressed.
As far as you can look back, it's hard to find a Steelers draft that was as good as this one. Starting off with a franchise left tackle, finding a first-round ranked cornerback in the second, and then continuing to add big name after big name later than most expected them to land.
Now, it's about what these seven draft picks turn into. But the outlook on the future, and this season, feels bright for each member of Pittsburgh's 2023 draft class.
Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia (Round 1, Pick 14)
Jones has more upside than any player on the Steelers offensive line. He has development ahead of him, but Pittsburgh sees him as a player who's ready to win now and in the future. This is a franchise left tackle pick for the Steelers.
"It was interesting, I was in Athens a year ago and took a group of his former teammates out 12 months ago, and I said, give me a name that we're going to be back for in 12 months. And universally, Broderick's name was the guy's name that we got 12 months ago. That was the first time I really heard his name.
"In investigating, I see why they held him in such high regard. He's a really good player right now. But the upside is tremendous. He's a Diaper Dandy. We're excited about getting him in the fold and teaching him and letting him sort himself out." - Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin.
This Season...
Dan Moore Jr. isn't out yet, but Jones has to be the favorite coming into the summer. The first-round pick and former fourth-round pick will battle it out for the starting job during training camp, giving Jones an opportunity to cement himself as the franchise tag right from the jump.
"He's got big-time upside, but I also say that he's a really good player right now." - Tomlin.
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State (Round 2, Pick 32)
Porter is the pick who's going to learn from Patrick Peterson and then step in as the next star corner for the Steelers. They haven't had an outside corner they drafted and turned into a star since Ike Taylor, and he's now looked at as the future of the position on the outside.
"When you look at him, he’s tall. He’s strong. He’s long. He gets his hands on receivers. He’s a big target to throw over. I remember, a long time ago when I was in Seattle, we had signed Bobby Taylor and Matt Hasselbeck would throw some balls toward him in practice. And he goes, ‘I know I think I can get it there but he’s just so long that it makes you pause.’ I think that is something with quarterbacks. That length is an issue, because he does have a big radius to be able to get back to a ball that he may look like he’s out of position on.
"I think he’s got a lot of really good NFL traits. We know the issue in terms of lack of ball production, but that’s something that you can work on. As long as he’s doing all the other things he does well, we’ll be glad with him." - Steelers Defensive Coordinator, Teryl Austin.
This Season...
Even if Porter isn't the starting cornerback this season, he'll play a significant role in the secondary. There's a shot he beats out Levi Wallace opposite of the All-Pro, but if Wallace is penciled in as a starter, it doesn't take him off the field too much. At 33 years old, you can't anticipate Peterson is an outside corner a majority of any game, and as he rotates inside and back to safety, Porter will step in.
"Excited to get Joey [Porter Jr.]. We knew we wanted a young cornerback. He’s got a lot of great attributes. Size, length, competitive, tough. Really good. Really glad we were able to get him to come in and contribute to our team. We’re looking forward to him coming in, competing and having an opportunity to help us win games this year. There’s no red shirts, none of that stuff. Hopefully, when he gets here, we’ll get right to work." - Austin.
Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin (Round 2, Pick 49)
Benton is going to start off as a nose tackle but should bounce out to defensive tackle to work multiple positions. He's looked at as the missing piece between Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, and part of the future with DeMarvin Leal.
"He’s a big, strong guy. Really active. Good hands. For a big guy, you’ll see him venture outside the box chasing things down. He’s got a good motor. You can see he’s in really good shape. He plays a lot of snaps. Sometimes you’ll watch guys and they’re splitting snaps with other guys. He’s an 80 to 85 percent guy. So, he keeps himself in really good shape, really good competitive sphere, big strong guy. I like him." - Steelers Defensive Coordinator, Teryl Austin.
This Season...
Benton will compete with newly-signed Armon Watts and Breiden Fehoko and returning veteran Montrevius Adams for the starting nose tackle spot, and will also bounce to the defensive tackle and end spots to play three downs. As a second-round pick, there's a fair shot he wins the job.
"I think we’ll start him probably inside as a nose and see what he can do as a 3 or a 4 for us. He’s a big body but he’s not a two down guy. So, he’ll have some chance to be a guy that can play on third-down and do some things in terms of penetrating and rushing and all those things. We’ll probably start him inside as a nose and let him grow into it and see what he does. But he’s not strictly that." - Austin.
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia (Round 3, Pick 93)
Washington is the missing link to Pat Freiermuth. The Steelers already see the impact he'll have as a blocker but also anticipates him being involved in the receiving game and developing as a pass-catcher. He and Freiermuth are the future at tight end.
"He’s a giant human being that takes pride in blocking. He enjoys being a blocker. I think he’s been quoted saying he’s a sixth offensive lineman. He understands what his body can do, and I do think he can catch balls. They had so many weapons at Georgia and I’m not sure his totals are maybe what you might think they could be. He’s definitely a blocker, and as a guy, we obviously formal-ed him and met him there in Indy and we had him back. Just a really, really good person. Likes football, likes being physical. Really excited about him." - Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada.
This Season...
As for 2023, Washington makes life a lot better for the Steelers offense both in the running game and passing game. He's looked at as a big-bodies red zone threat who still has the capability of creating plays in open space. He allows the Steelers to utilize Freiermuth and Connor Heyward in different areas and improves the offensive line by being an "extra tackle" at times.
"I think Pat's a different type of tight end and those two guys, Zach and Darnell, are bigger, more blocking guys. Zach’s made some plays down the field and can catch the ball, but certainly, Pat is more known for that, right? I mean, that's why the tight end position, I think there's probably two types, two or three in the game right now. I would say those are different types of players, but we think we can match them up pretty well." - Canada.
Nick Herbig, OLB, Wisconsin (Round 4, Pick 132)
Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr. are thrilling picks, but Nick Herbig's introductory conference call was the best moment of the NFL Draft.
"I can't really explain it to you. I'm at a loss for words. It's all I ever dreamed about, and I get a chance to play for the Steelers, a legendary organization, and I get to play with my brothers. That's all I could ever ask for."
His entire call is better. It's worth checking out.
READ: Emotional Nick Herbig Gets to Live His Biggest Dream - Playing With His Brother
This Season...
Herbig comes in as an outside linebacker that'll provide depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. There are questions about his size, standing 6'2, 240 pounds with 31 1/4’’ arms. Pittsburgh sees him as an athletic weapon on the edge and are going to try him there before resorting to
"He's definitely athletic enough to [move around]. We're going to start him on that outside backer and try to make a big-time player out of him there first." - Steelers Outside Linebackers Coach, Denzel Martin.
Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue (Round 7, Pick 241)
Trice comes to Pittsburgh as the second big-bodied cornerback in the NFL Draft, following Porter Jr. At 6'3, 210 pounds, the seventh-round pick should have an opportunity to earn his place at both the outside and inside corner slot. He leaves Purdue with five interceptions and 15 pass deflections and likely would've gone higher if not for medical issues after a torn ACL and ankle sprain.
"One thing I'll say is we'll look good getting off the bus this year in our first game with the two guys that we picked up." - Steelers Defensive Backs Coach, Grady Brown.
This Season...
Trice is going to have to earn a roster spot and compete with James Pierre, Ahkello Witherspoon, Chandon Sullivan and Arthur Maulet during training camp. If he earns a place, he could see some action, but chances are he's a special teamer with some depth availability on defense as a rookie.
The Steelers will also test him at safety.
"I think a lot of those answers will be found out when he gets in here and we start moving him around. You look at a person's ability to learn different positions and everything like that, but one thing he’s shown is that he can be a corner in this league." - Brown.
Spencer Anderson, OL, Maryland (Round 7, Pick 251)
The Steelers used their final draft pick on a versatile offensive lineman, and at pick 251, all you can ask for is a player who can try to make multiple positions work.
This Season...
Anderson has played games at every position on the offensive line for Maryland. That's going to come in handy at training camp. The Steelers love guys who can move around, and for a late-round draft pick, being able to be flexible will help your chances of making a team.
This season, the best-case scenario feels like the practice squad. Which, for a seventh-round pick, is a good place to be as a rookie. He feels like another John Leglue-type player.
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