We are officially under one month until the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock with the 17th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Mock drafts are flying out left and right, but unlike the past two years, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus name for the Black and Gold. The needs have changed a little bit over the past month, as the interior offensive line has been shored up.
Between cornerback and offensive tackle, the two biggest needs at this point, there are several potential options. Three names seem unlikely to be on the board at 17 for the Black and Gold: Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr., Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez and Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon. There is always a chance of a slight fall on draft day, as these guys have been fallen to Pittsburgh in various mock drafts.
The scouting department has traveled the nation over the past few weeks, going to several different Pro Days. They've had dinner with a few prospects as well, specifically Ohio State's trio of offensive linemen. In his recent mailbag, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac was asked his favorite prospects at each position, and he provided a tidbit on the Steelers’ favorites.
“CB Kelee Ringo. T Darnell Wright. DL Bryan Bresee. I can tell you they love two of those guys,“ Dulac said.
Defensive line is seen as another need with Cam Heyward getting up there in age. It doesn’t seem to be as pressing as the other two positions, but Bresee is a guy who makes some sense. He has been connected to the Steelers in several mock drafts. Wright is seen in the second tier of this year's offensive tackle class, just behind guys like Johnson and Broderick Jones.
Dulac referenced that the team “loves” two of the three prospects that he mentioned. While the team had a top-30 visit scheduled with Ringo, there's been little connection between the two sides. Because of that, Dulac is likely referring to Wright and Bresee as the two prospects that the Black and Gold "love." There's a possibility that one of them is even available with the 32nd pick, the opening selection in the second round.
Cornerback remains a top need, so it's entirely possible that Ringo is one of the two players that the team loves. Like Bresee, Ringo's draft stock has fallen quite a bit over the past year or so. He comes into the draft as one of the most established collegiate defensive backs, as he played several high-end games at the University of Georgia.
Which of these three prospects would you most want in a Steelers uniform? Which two prospects (of the three) do you think Dulac is talking about? Is DL as big of a need as OT and CB?
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