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After a successful offseason up to this point, the Pittsburgh Steelers have finally made it to draft week. The NFL Draft takes place on Thursday, April 27th in Kansas City. General Manager, Omar Khan and Head Coach, Mike Tomlin have had quite the offseason to prepare for the upcoming 2023 season. The Steelers have put their stamp on free agency after resigning multiple key players from their 2022 roster and bringing in external players to make up the current roster.
It didn't stop there as the Steelers also traded for WR Allen Robinson from the Rams in order to add a veteran to the room and another playmaker for Kenny Pickett. With the draft rapidly approaching, the question everyone wants to know the answer to is what do the Steelers do with the 17th overall pick?
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Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin, Maurkice Pouncey, and Art Rooney II as Pouncey is drafted by the team.
Steelers Mock Drafts Everywhere!
With the draft around the corner, there are many outlets that have mock drafts for everyone to see and there are sites to even create your own draft. Most noticeably, PFF.com has a draft simulator that allows draft analysis and fans to be in the "war room" and draft for their favorite teams.
Before Thursday night, there will be hundreds of mock drafts released with different prospectives as to why players will be selected by certain teams. At this point, many people are burnt out over looking at different mocks and are just ready to the draft. With all these mocks drafts, there are only two people who have a true idea on which way the Steelers are leaning towards with their first pick.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers running back, Najee Harris makes a catch during warmups before a 2021 regular season game.
In Tomlin and Khan We Trust
Coach Tomlin and Khan are the two men that know exactly which way they will go with their first selection in the draft. Speculation is that the Steelers will pick a defensive back or offensive lineman with their first pick. However, with the draft, there is always a player or position that falls and could unexpectedly be available for the Steelers to pick.
Fortunately, one position that the Steelers don't "need" is a quarterback this time around. Last year, there was no secret that Pittsburgh was drafting a signal-caller early in the draft. At pick #20, they had their pick at which quarterback was going to be the future of the franchise. Ultimately, Pickett was chosen and is now QB1 for years to come.
Looking at the draft this year, the Steelers should have three guys in mind that that could fall into their laps at #17 based on the combine meetings and pre-draft visits. Players to look out for in the first round are Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State), Deonte Banks (Maryland) and Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State).
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The Pittsburgh Steelers take part in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Who Will Hear Their Name Called And Join The Steelers?
The NFL Draft starts Thursday and all the buzz and hype around who will be selected at 17 is heating up. The Steelers will enter the draft with picks 17, 32, 49, 80, 120, 241 and 251. So, SteelerNation, who do you want the Steelers to select in the first round? Let us know in the comments below.
