Steelers Potential 2023 NFL Draft Prospects Who May End Up Being Selected By An AFC North Rival

The Pittsburgh Steelers will soon be on the clock for their first-round selection during the 2023 NFL Draft. Over the past few months, the team has taken the time to speak with a plethora of potential prospects and is locked in on the players they want to add to help improve the roster. While it is nearly impossible to predict which players will end up in Pittsburgh come Draft Night, quite a few players have a fair shot of getting a call from Mike Tomlin on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. 

Heading into Thursday night, the positional groups the Steelers have been linked to the most include cornerback, offensive line, defensive line and linebacker. Interestingly enough, fellow AFC North teams enter the 2023 NFL Draft with similar needs. Particularly, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals are in the market for a cornerback, and the Cleveland Browns are in search of a solid defensive tackle. 

Could a potential player the Steelers have shown interest in be snatched up by an AFC North foe? Certainly possible. Just ask the Ravens' front office how they feel about Omar Khan selecting Calvin Austin III in last year's draft one pick before the Ravens were set to take him. 

Baltimore Ravens: Could Deonte Banks Be A Long-Term Answer At CB For The Ravens? For The Steelers?

Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks has been mocked to both the Steelers at 17 and the Ravens and 22 in multiple Mock Drafts. Banks makes sense for the Steelers at pick 17 but makes even more sense for the Ravens at pick 22 due to him being a Baltimore native and playing at the University of Maryland. During his collegiate career, he did not put have eye-popping stats, only having two interceptions in his four-year career to go along with 11 passes defended. 

However, his impressive performance at the NFL Combine may make up for this lack of production where he posted a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and a 42" vertical jump. Undoubtedly, he is one of the most physically gifted talents at defensive back in the 2023 class. If Banks can learn the complexities of playing corner in the NFL, he may prove to be a worthwhile first-round pick. 

Both the Ravens and Steelers have been rumored to have an interest in making Banks their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. With an especially deep group of cornerbacks in this year's class, it may be possible he falls to the second day of the draft. The Ravens do not select again until pick 86 in the third round, where Banks will be long gone. Therefore, if the Ravens truly do have an interest in the services of the Baltimore native, they will either have to take him at pick 22 or make a trade into the second round. 

Cleveland Browns: Could A Small School Defensive Tackle Be A Steal On Day Three? 

Defensive tackle Karl Brooks held official Top-30 visits with both the Steelers and Browns, which makes him a serious candidate to be elected by either team on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. A two-time captain at Bowling Green, Brooks was highly productive as a collegiate player and possesses surprising athleticism for a player with prototypical size at 6'3", 300 pounds. 

While Brooks will most likely not hear his name called until at least round four, he may be a diamond in the rough type of defensive tackle who has upside for a team that is willing to be patient with his development. For both the Steelers and Browns, Brooks may have the possibility of not having to jump in right away and immediately be a starter along the defensive line. The Steelers have a formidable group at this position with players such as Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and DeMarvin Leal, among others. For the Browns, newly signed Dalvin Tomlinson and veteran Jordan Elliott are a solid duo for the interior defensive line in the Browns' 4-3 defense. 

The Browns currently possess eight selections between rounds three-through-seven of the draft while the Steelers only have four during the same rounds. With this in mind, it may be more likely that Brooks finds himself in Cleveland as opposed to Pittsburgh. However, if the Steelers do not land one of their preferred defensive line prospects early in the draft, there may be a real possibility that they find a way to add a player such as Brooks on Day 3. 

Cincinnati Bengals: Could The FBS All-Time Leader In Pick-Sixes Be In Play At Pick 28? 

Emmanuel Forbes, a cornerback from Mississippi State, is one of the more polarizing players in the entire 2023 NFL Draft. Forbes enjoyed an exceptional career at Mississippi State where he collected 14 interceptions, which included six house calls. Yes, he had six pick-sixes over his three years in college. While his exciting style of the play is intriguing, his lack of size at only 170 pounds is a bit concerning. 

Forbes held an official Top-30 visit with the Bengals, but not with the Steelers. He is currently projected as a late first-round, possibly late second-round selection, which just so happens to be where both teams have picks available with the Bengals being at pick 28 and the Steelers at pick 32. Forbes is certainly not in the same echelon as fellow cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon but could be an interesting option for a team that is willing to take a low-floor, high-ceiling type of defensive back. 

Similar to Brooks, if Forbes could find himself in a situation where he would not need to start right away, it may help his long-term development as he undoubtedly needs to add weight to be effective at the next level. With this in mind, he may be an ideal match for the Steelers as the team already has a strong trio of outside corners in Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon. On the flip side, if he does find himself in Cincinnati come draft night, he may be asked to contribute immediately in 2023. 

Thoughts, Steeler Nation?

What are your thoughts on the possibility of a player you want the Steelers to draft ending up with an AFC North rival? Do you think any of the three players mentioned above are realistic candidates for the Steelers to add during the 2023 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments! 

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