Steelers Should Have Their Eye On Zacch Pickens And Others After Big Day 1 Of Senior Bowl Practice

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently going through their first full off-season with Omar Khan at the helm, and it is definitely odd not seeing Kevin Colbert making the rounds for the first time in several decades.

The 2023 off-season has already been a busy one for the Steelers, as there has been a lot of talk about the future of multiple key coaches. Whether it be all of Steeler Nation waiting to see if Mike Tomlin will pull the plug on the Matt Canada experiment, or if Brian Flores will be hired away after just one season in Pittsburgh, we all have been on the edge of our seats waiting for some news to break. 

For now, those changes have yet to happen, and the organization is diving deep into scouting players who have entered the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. With a large portion of the Steelers front office currently being present in Mobile, Alabama to watch the week of practice for the 2023 Senior Bowl, here are some guys that stuck out and likely caught their eye after the first day of practice:

Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina

It didn't take long for Pickens to make an impression, and he sure has a name that Steeler Nation has already fallen in love with. On the first day, Pickens showed incredibly impressive strength throughout all the drills, as anytime him and an offensive lineman were head up, he immediately was able to reset the line of scrimmage a few yards into the backfield. These are all traits that resulted in him being highlighted as a player to watch before the Senior Bowl festivities began.

Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State

Mammoth. That is one word to describe Jones, and it is as accurate as ever. He recorded the largest wingspan in Senior Bowl history, as his wingspan was a massive 89.5 inches. He showed on the first day of practice how he uses that wingspan to his advantage too, as he consistently was able to latch onto defenders and either drive them back several yards or drive them into the ground. Jones' biggest concern will always be his weight and overall mobility, but his first day of practice definitely opened everyone's eyes. 

Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State

At these All-Star games and the weeks of practice, a lot of eyes are always on the skill players and what they are able to do against other elite competitors. Reed has always been a polished player and he proved that easily yet again. He did the majority of his work in the slot, which in case people didn't notice the Steelers need, and made easy work of most of the defensive backs he was going up against. He has been listed as a Day 3 target on most boards the major outlets are sharing, but don't be surprised he doesn't shoot up those rankings after days like today.

In addition to these guys above sticking out on the field, the team will likely be meeting with almost every individual in some capacity, whether it be formally or informally. Some players have already said that they have talked to some of the Steelers' staff, so continue to check back to see who else they meet with and who the team should be looking at the rest of the week. 

Let us know below who you think the Steelers should keep an eye on this week, and who you believe will be able to help their draft stock the most during the Senior Bowl!

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