The 2023 NFL Draft is finally here! The Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the clock sooner than we know it, and it is time to finally put your money where your mouth is and stake your claim on who you believe the Steelers will pick with their first round selection.
Aaron Doster/AP photo
The Pittsburgh Steelers take part in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Below are the predictions for the Steelers' first round pick from your very own SteelerNation staff. Check out who we all believe the team will pick and why!
SteelerNation's Justin McGonigle - Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
"Omar Khan wants to continue to make a splash, and he does it on Day 1 with a big time trade. After watching Carter fall past the Seattle Seahawks at pick #5 the Steelers jump in front of Andy Weidl's former team the Philadelphia Eagles with a trade up to #9 with the Chicago Bears. Where there is smoke there is always fire and it's the destination we've been hearing about for weeks."
SteelerNation's Matt Papiernik - Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
"It is hard to find reasons arguing against Branch as the team's choice. Tomlin and Khan attended his pro day, he is an extremely versatile defensive back, and he can contribute at multiple spots the second he puts on the black & gold. If they trade up however, it'll likely be for one of the top tackles such as Paris Johnson Jr."
SteelerNation's Bob Quinn - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
"The Steelers will select Broderick Jones from the University of Georgia with pick 17. After countless mock drafts, he falls to the Steelers a little more than half the time. It is a coin flip, but this one goes in the Steelers' favor and they get a franchise left tackle."
SteelerNation's Tyler Cenko - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
"The Steelers need a tackle and there's a big drop off after the top three of Paris Johnson Jr., Darnell Wright, and Broderick Jones. With much more depth at cornerback in the draft, I expect the Steelers to get their franchise LT at pick 17."
Former Maryland cornerback, Deonte Banks (#3). | Photo Credit: AP
SteelerNation's Colton Gesser - Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
"I just feel the Steelers are going corner and it won't be either of the top two guys and it's going to be Banks. They love the Maryland boys."
SteelerNation's Ben Michaelian - Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
"The fact the Steelers still seem comfortable enough in their tackles to wait to address that later on, they need top cheap talent on defense, and Branch is Tomlin's dream of a versatile defensive back. He checks all the boxes to be the first safety taken in the first round by the Steelers since Troy Polamalu."
SteelerNation's Drew Campbell - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
"If the Steelers stay put, the top three tackles will come off of the board. Instead of reaching for a tackle, they will select the best DB available."
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SteelerNation's Justin Imler - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
"Even though I'd prefer trading up for Paris Johnson Jr., if the price is right, I believe the Steelers will stay put at 17 and select Tennessee OT Darnell Wright. The team has done as much homework as anyone on this year's offensive tackles. I believe that's what they'll target right away, and look towards other positions as we get further into the weekend."
SteelerNation's Parker Abate - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
Jones probably won't be available at #17, but the Green Bay Packers could be the perfect trade partner at #13. The New York Jets are likely to take an offensive lineman so jumping ahead of #15 may be the key to getting Jones in the black and gold. If he falls to Pittsburgh without a trade being necessary, even better. The Steelers find a franchise left tackle for years to come.
SteelerNation's Matthew Tristan - Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
"I believe they're going to take Porter Jr. so he can learn primarily from Patrick Peterson. It also doesn't hurt to have the family connections to the organizations."
SteelerNation's Zachary Franciscus - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
"Will be the best OT at that point and I don't expect any top cornerbacks to last."
Andrew Ferguson / Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Offensive Tackle Darnell Wright
SteelerNation's Kolby Barrett - Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
"My personal favorite cornerback in this entire draft class. The likely hood of him falling to 17 is extremely low, but if the stars align, this is the perfect pick."
SteelerNation's Spencer Schultz - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
"Ideally, one of the top OT's slips, but Wright makes sense if not, even if he is a RT."
SteelerNation's G Stryker - Brian Branch, S, Alabama
"Mine is Branch, I like his athleticism and instinctive playmaking. I think he is going to be a special player in the NFL and I just can't pass on him."
Steph Chambers | Getty Images
Broderick Jones celebrates in the 2023 National Championship after a second quarter touchdown
SteelerNation's LeeAnn Lowman - Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
"I got us moving up to take an OT"
SteelerNation's Brandon Wallace - Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
"I'm convinced that if the Steelers want a top left tackle, they're going to need to trade up, and I think that's exactly what Omar Khan does. I think Johnson is their guy and I'm all for it. We can get a solid cornerback later in the draft."
SteelerNation's Jackson Shover - Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
There are defintiely a lot of repeat names on this list, and all of the predictions are either offensive tackles or defensive backs. Who the selection will be might still be unclear, but there is a clear direction that most of us believe the Steelers will go early in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Let us know your thoughts on our predictions below, and let us know who you think will hear their name called by the Steelers in the first round!
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