The Pittsburgh Steelers have been pretty active this offseason making changes to their roster. They normally aren’t very active in free agency, but they have gotten more aggressive with Omar Khan as general manager. This offseason Patrick Peterson, Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts were all signed and Allen Robinson was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Rams.
Those are all solid veterans coming to Pittsburgh that will address the needs of last season’s team. Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers are in a good spot to fill the remaining holes on the roster.
Pinpointing their game plan heading into the draft is always tough. Pittsburgh had a history of targeting defenders but has gone offense the last two years. In 2021, it was running back Najee Harris out of Alabama. Last year, it was quarterback Kenny Pickett out of Pittsburgh.
The defensive side of the ball could certainly use some attention. Long-term needs persist throughout the unit as they will be relying on a number of veterans and stopgap fixes. It would not be surprising if the Steelers pulled the trigger on a cornerback or linebacker early in the draft.
On offense, the Steelers can never be counted out from selecting a wide receiver. They have a great track record of identifying and developing middle-late round receivers. With Robinson in the fold, that could be the course of action once again.
However, arguably the biggest need for the Steelers entering the draft is along the offensive line. Isaac Seumalo was signed away from the Philadelphia Eagles to shore up the interior, but the tackle spot could still use some attention.
With the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, a prospect to keep an eye on for the Steelers is Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright. Not only would he fill a need, but he also fits value-wise at that spot in the first round. Pittsburgh has struggled at times getting the run game going at times and Wright would help turn things around immediately as an elite run blocker.
A five-star recruit in high school, the pedigree is there for Wright. He has some limitations given his lack of range and so-so foot speed, but his experience and technique more than makeup for it. The tools are there for Wright to be a starter in the NFL for a long time, providing the Steelers with a building block in the trenches to block for Pickett and Harris.
