Steelers Make A Trade To Get Game-Changing Players In New 3-Round Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers front office has not been shy to aggressively improve a roster that finished 9-8 and on the outside of the playoffs in 2022. General Manager Omar Khan said he isn't afraid to trade up in the draft if he believes the team can acquire a player that can make an impact on day one and Pro Football Focus (PFF) thinks the team will do just that in their most recent mock draft. 

While Head Coach Mike Tomlin said he was "comfortable" with the state of the team's offensive line at the annual league meetings in Arizona, that shouldn't stop the Steelers from making a move for one of the top offensive tackles in the class. After a run on tackles started by the Chicago Bears taking University of Tennessee product Darnell Wright at pick number nine, followed by Peter Skoronski to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Paris Johnson Jr. to the Tennessee Titans, with the New York Jets possibly looking for offensive line help at pick 13, Khan makes a deal with the Houston Texans to secure a player one NFL analyst thinks you can't go wrong with. 

"The Steelers saw the tackle run and decided to flip Pick Nos. 17, 80, and 120 to jump the tackle-needy Jets for Broderick Jones," PFF's Michael Renner wrote. "He could truthfully replace either of the Steelers' starters on the outside from last year."      

Dan Moore Jr. and Chukwuma Okorafor started all 17 games at tackle for the team in 2022 on a unit that set a record for the best score in Football Outsiders offensive line continuity stat, but don't count on either of their jobs being completely safe. From a financial standpoint, Moore Jr. seems more likely to slide into a backup role as he's still on a rookie contract costing $1.1 million in cap hit for 2023 and $1.2 million in 2024 according to Spotrac.com. Okarafor, on the other hand, is set to cost $13 million in 2023 and $11.8 million in 2024. 

Steelers Target Defensive Help In Round 2  

The Steelers aren't in desperate need of another edge rusher with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith firmly entrenched on the depth chart on either side, but there are two big reasons why the team may target the position. 

First, is the lack of depth behind the starters. The Steelers saw just how important it is to have depth this year as Watt went down with a pectoral injury. The second reason is Highsmith insurance for the future. The 26-year-old in August can start extension talks this summer, but is still under contract for one more year. If he has another monster statistical year in 2023 as he did in 2022, the former Charlotte University defensive end could find a better payday than Pittsburgh is likely going to want to give him. In that case, having a player on a rookie deal to rotate in and learn behind Highsmith this season and ideally take over if need be next year.    

To that end, PFF has the Steelers taking Kent State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah to open up the second round. The 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year amassed an impressive 11 tackles for a loss and eight and a half sacks while also blocking a pass in his final year in college. 

The Steelers brought in veteran Patrick Peterson to replace some of what Cameron Sutton had brought to the table, but the team still needs a longer-term answer at the position. South Carolina's Cam Smith lined up almost everywhere in 2022 for the Gamecocks per PFF and that versatility plus his smarts make him a likely selection at pick 49. 

Would you move up to get a tackle? Can the Steelers wait to address their defensive needs in round 2? Comment below!

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