The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 draft class kicked off with a bang, trading up for offensive tackle Broderick Jones. It was the first step in general manager Omar Khan’s plan to use the 2023 NFL Draft to turn this franchise around.
Looking ahead to Friday night, Pittsburgh finds itself in an excellent position to be one of the biggest winners on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Steelers hold the first pick in the second round and two top 50 selections overall. Throw in a valuable third-round pick and Pittsburgh could significantly improve on both sides of the ball by the time the final pick is made on Day 2.
Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs on Day 2
Here’s a quick rundown of the Steelers’ draft needs after Round 1.
- Center
- Edge Rusher
- Cornerback
- Wide Receiver
Related: NFL defense rankings
Pittsburgh Steelers mock draft: Day 2 projections
Round 2, 32nd overall: Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State Nittany Lions
The Pittsburgh Steelers likely never imagined they would be in this scenario when they traded Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears before the 2022 NFL trade deadline. Essentially, Pittsburgh got a first-round pick for a player they were elated to get off the roster. While this selection won’t come with a fifth-year option, which only applies to first-round picks, this is a dream scenario for the Steelers to open Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
There was some consideration given to trading down, seeing what quarterback-needy teams would be willing to offer for the 32nd pick to draft Will Levis or Hendon Hooker. However, it was too risky with the high likelihood that Joey Porter Jr. would be off the board wherever the Steelers moved down to after a deal.
Kicking off Round 2 with Pittsburgh drafting Joey Porter Jr. feels so fitting. The 6-foot-2 cornerback is the son of the legendary linebacker Joey Porter, a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time team. While he plays a different position than his father, you can see some similarities in their playing style.
Porter Jr offers outstanding size (6-foot-2) and length (34-inch arms) for his position. He’s an extremely physical cornerback, willing to get in a wide receiver’s chest and reroute them. The edge that made his father an All-Pro linebacker also exists in his son. Plus, Porter Jr offers above-average instincts, knows how to disrupt contested catches and he shows a great understanding for what’s happening. Pittsburgh’s coaching staff will need to clean things up, with penalties likely to be a problem, but he fills a huge need and could be mentored by Patrick Peterson.
Round 2, 49th overall: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas Razorbacks
The Steelers are at their best when they have one of the best defenses in the league. We haven’t exactly seen that version of this unit in the past two seasons, but the 2023 NFL Draft and free agency have provided reasons for optimism. Now, Pittsburgh lands one of the top prospects it met at the NFL Combine.
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Look at what happened to the Steelers’ pass rush last season. It ranked 30th in pressure rate (17.4 percent) and 25th in quarterback knockdown rate (7.4 percent), yet posted the sixth-highest blitz rate (31.5 percent) in the NFL. Getting a healthy version of T.J. Watt in 2023 will make a difference, but there’s even more to be done.
After beginning his collegiate career as an edge rusher, Drew Sanders made a late conversion to inside linebacker. He thrived in the role for the Arkansas Razorbacks, generating 39 pressures and 11 sacks (PFF). The 6-foot-4 linebacker is an excellent athlete (8.97 Relative Athletic Score) who Pittsburgh can use as an off-ball blitzer in his rookie season as Sanders develops into a three-down player by gaining more experience and learning from a great NFL coaching staff.
Round 3, 80th overall: Nathaniel ‘Tank’ Dell, WR, Houston Cougars
If Houston Cougars wide receiver Nathaniel Dell is four inches taller, he’s a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Dell measured 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds at the NFL Combine, which dramatically limits his role at the next level. With that said, he’s the perfect player to close out this Steelers mock draft.
Disregard the Allen Robinson trade, he’s proven over the last two seasons that his good days are behind him. With Diontae Johnson and George Pickens locked in as excellent perimeter receivers and both under contract for the next two years, Pittsburgh adds a go-to slot weapon for quarterback Kenny Pickett to pepper with targets.
Dell is lightning in a bottle. He pairs eye-popping speed with elusiveness in the open field, nimble feet that allow him to create easy separation in coverage and he does a great job of tracking the football into his hands and then taking off for chunks of yards after the catch.
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Not only can he operate as a slot receiver in Pittsburgh, Dell could also provide this offense with another vertical threat. The Steelers will still take a run-first approach with Pickens and Johnson earning the highest target shares, but Dell is exactly the kind of complementary receiving option you want to round out your passing attack.