Steelers Land Franchise Left Tackle In New Ideal Situation 2023 Mock Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been aggressively upgrading its offensive line in the offseason and with the draft weeks away, it looks like the team isn't finished with the remodeling of the unit's makeup. A recent mock draft has general manager Omar Khan making a move to continue upgrading the group by taking an offensive tackle with his first-ever draft choice.

NFL.com writer Adam Rank made his first "recommendatory mock." In it, he gives playful advice to each team on who it should, in his opinion, select when on the clock in the first round in April. His recommendation for the Steelers is to rush to the podium to select Ohio State star Paris Johnson Jr for some potential competition for Dan Moore Jr who has been serviceable at left tackle the last two seasons. After considering the Buckeye at pick 14 to the New England Patriots, he opted to have Bill Belichick throw some fire into the rivalry with Pittsburgh and have them take Joey Porter Jr but also leaving the Steelers the chance to grab Johnson Jr.      

"If this dude is still available for you at this junction, run, don't walk to get the pick in. This long, athletic bookend is going to be a star," he said about the consensus All-American in 2022. "You cannot resist him here, especially considering your offensive line has been lacking in recent years."

Steelers Still Looking For Upgrades On The Offensive Line

The Steelers have been meeting with plenty of prospects in the predraft process but a large focus has been on the offensive line. Johnson Jr certainly has all the skills that make him project as a long-term future protector of Kenny Pickett, but those same skills likely mean another team grabs him before pick number 17. If the Steelers truly see him as a game-changer they could decide to move up for him. They certainly have an interest in him so we shall see what happens but the team will keep its options open.       

The Steelers' new brass showed their love for size on the offensive line with the additions in free agency, and if Johnson is off the board in the first round, with the first pick of the second round they could target Johnson Jr's teammate Dawand Jones, who is the biggest prospect in the draft. Jones is strictly a right tackle so that would signal a move probably for Chukwuma Okorafor or at minimum some stiff competition. 

The team also met with Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison and Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence on Wednesday according to Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and have had a meeting with one of the top center prospects in the 2023 class, John Michael Schmitz. 

 Do you think the Steelers need to add an offensive lineman early in the draft? Who would be your top picks? Comment below!

#SteelerNation