The football season has ended and now all eyes are on the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers barely missed the playoffs, so who they draft could be the difference in seeing the postseason next year. The question on the minds of the Steeler Nation is, who will the Steelers draft in 2023?
Draft rumors permeate Steelers news this time of year. Although anything can happen on draft night, we can tell from past Steelers’ draft success that the future will be bright.
The Steelers’ draft grade in 2022 goes way up in hindsight. They had the good fortune of finding their franchise guy in Kenny Pickett, grabbing a generational talent in George Pickens, and also adding versatility with Connor Heyward. The team’s only real draft bust came with seventh-round pick Chris Oladokun who barely saw the field.
How Many Player Picks Do the Steelers Have In 2023?
The Steelers have seven picks, but they are not spread evenly through the seven rounds of the draft. They have a single pick in rounds one, three, and four, and two picks in rounds two and seven, with no picks in rounds five and six.
In the first through fourth and seventh rounds, the team has their original picks. They gained a second round pick from a trade with the Chicago Bears last year and a seventh round pick brokered from a deal with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks. Their first three picks are among the top fifty selections to be made.
Player Needs for 2023
Finding the right quarterback can launch an NFL team down the road to success, but a wrong move can ruin a franchise for years to come. Since the Steelers were smart enough and lucky enough to find their guy immediately after Big Ben’s retirement, this offseason is the time to find the linemen who can protect him. So we’re all waiting with bated breath to find out who will the Steelers draft in 2023?
Names like Dawand Jones, OT, from Ohio State and Peter Skoronski, OL, from Northwestern have emerged as top prospects for the Steelers draft in the early rounds.
Known for their defense, the team may look to strengthen the secondary, especially at the cornerback position. They could also use some depth behind their superstar edge rushers.
GM Omar Khan personally attended the second annual HBCU Combine and spoke with EDGE Andrew Farmer from Lane College. If the Steelers draft him, his success could be similar to the Patriots’ Safety Kyle Duggar.
The biggest question this year is will the franchise decide to give Pickett additional weapons on the offense. Many people are hoping for a reunion with Pickett’s college teammate Jordan Addison. He caught 100 passes, including 17 touchdowns, and had more than 1,500 yards when he last played with Pickett in 2021 at the University of Pittsburgh. And after Pickett delivered a gift to us for the 2022 holidays, we’re ready for more. As usual, we’re anxious to see our new young Steelers show their promise.
This may depend on where the team sees Diontae Johnson heading in the future. They aren’t short on offensive weapons, although everyone is drafting for chemistry these days and Pickett and Addison certainly have that.
Watch the 2023 NFL Draft at Hibernia Bar
You can always catch all of your favorite sporting events including the 2023 NFL Games at Hibernia Bar and the Steelers Draft at Hibernia. Die hard fans know that we’re the best bar in Hell’s Kitchen to watch the NFL games and playoffs. So, don’t miss the 2023 NFL Draft from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29 – we’ll have the wings and beer ready!