Steelers trade to top 12 in latest mock draft

The Steelers have been rebuilding their offensive line through free agency and now Pro Football Focus' latest mock draft has Pittsburgh trading up to land one of the best offensive tackles in the class.

PFF has the Steelers trading picks No. 17, 80, and 120 to the Texans for pick No. 12 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh then selects Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones, according to PFF.

Jones, who is just 21, ranks as PFF's No. 26 overall player on its big board but has the Steelers trading up from pick No. 17 because of a "tackle run."

"Jones is a bully of an offensive tackle. You're not going through him, you'll have to go around," PFF writes. That's certainly true standing at a massive 6-foot-5, 311 pounds.

The Georgia product had the second-best total score among offensive tackles at the NFL combine as well.

If Pittsburgh can land Jones, it would certainly be a win but giving up valuable picks in a draft that is deep at the position may not be what general manager Omar Khan feels is best. Especially with several other positions that need to be addressed.

However, the Steelers still have picks No. 32 and 49 in the second round. If they feel they can get enough value with those picks, maybe a trade up is exactly what will happen.