The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be in better shape than some expected after future Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement at the end of the 2021 NFL season. They have since selected QB Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and appear to be going through more of a "refresh" of the team as opposed to a dreaded "rebuild."
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett leads his team to victory against the Las Vegas Raiders at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on Dec. 24, 2022. | (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
Pickett has improved each week throughout his time starting this season. He's coming off of his top moment so far on Christmas Eve, leading the team on a game-winning drive against the Las Vegas Raiders. The first-year signal-caller was able to cap off the drive with a touchdown strike to rookie WR George Pickens with less than a minute remaining. This improved play over the most recent stretch where the Steelers are 5-2 since their bye week, have most of Steeler Nation convinced that Pickett can be the next franchise QB for the team.
With the team having confidence around who they have under center, this upcoming April, the Steelers can go many different directions with their first round selection. They have always been an organization that prides themselves on selecting the best player available, and they are in position to do that yet again.
Even with the team currently on a bit of a hot streak, and improved play across the board, the Steelers still have a couple of holes worth addressing. One of those holes for much of the season has been left tackle, as second-year LT Dan Moore Jr. has struggled for much of this season. It is worth noting though, that Moore has improved his play over the last month of football.
In a recent 2023 mock draft completed by Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus, he agreed the Steelers could use an upgrade at left tackle and a potential franchise cornerstone to pair with Pickett. Sikkema had the team selecting OT Broderick Jones, out of the University of Georgia. Below is what Sikkema had to say about the selection:
"After drafting what could be their franchise quarterback in Kenny Pickett in the first round last year, the Steelers need to fix their offensive tackle woes. Broderick Jones started at left tackle for the first time this year, and it was clear he was still adjusting to how to best brace for and counter better pass-rush moves, but he checks a lot of the size and athleticism boxes, as well as shows good flexibility in his base to stay low at the snap. Those are all signs of an offensive tackle worth taking a chance on in the late teens."
Jones has been mocked as a potential first round left tackle since he enrolled at the powerhouse university in 2020 as a 5-star recruit. However, it took Jones until his third-year with the team to become the full-time starter, but he hasn't disappointed. Having limited playing time through his three seasons, it is obvious to see that Jones is a bit raw with some of his technique and struggles occasionally handling pass-rushers with good counters, but that won't stop teams from seeing a potential long-term solution on the blind side as with good coaching that can all be cleaned up.
While Jones would be a solid selection in the middle of the first round this April, it is unlikely he is someone the Steelers would target. The team has well known tendencies to select players with a lot of starting experience and rarely select underclassman in round one. This can be a testament to the Steelers always looking for players who are "NFL ready" and able to contribute right away.
Potential Steelers' draft pick OL Broderick Jones blocking EDGE Will Anderson Jr. | USA Today Sports
There are a lot of people that would be very happy to see Jones in the black and gold next fall, and he will have his talents on full display as he will go against several talented pass-rushers on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoffs. If he performs well on such a grand stage, his name will continue to be flying up draft boards.
What do you think about the Steelers potentially selecting a left tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft, particularly if it was Jones? Let us know in the comments below!
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