Pittsburgh Steelers fans are remarkably content with the draft picks that were made this year. The complaints are few and far between and that is unusual. According to former Steeler Ramon Foster, fans should be excited.
The Ramon Foster Show
Dejan Kovacevic and Ramon Foster talk about the Steelers 2023 draft class.
Foster hosts his own podcast, The Ramon Foster Show, with his co-host Dejan Kovacevic, on the DK Pittsburgh Sports Network. On his post-draft episode, Kovacevic said he was just basking in the "afterglow" of a successful draft. Foster said he can't remember a class coming in with marks this high since Pounce's (Maurkice Pouncey) class in 2010. That would be the draft where we got Pouncey, Jason Worilds, Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders.
The show focused primarily on the first four rounds of the draft which included OT Broderick Jones, CB Joey Porter Jr., DT Keeanu Benton, and TE Darnell Washington.
Steph Chambers | Getty Images
Broderick Jones celebrates in the 2023 National Championship after a second-quarter touchdown.
Kovacevic said that he gives a tip of his hat to all the staff that were involved in making what appears to be such a successful draft. He also mentions that he doesn't think there is much more room on the team through free agency.
"One of the thoughts I had about this class was if you go over the first four picks, were people that we talked about on this program for 17 overall. We have three picks in the top 50, 17, 32, and 49 and they end up with four who were at least discussed in the first, Keeanu Benton being the most fringe of that group."
Foster agrees, stating that the team got some serious talent as a steal. Foster said that the Steelers were fortunate that a lot of those late Day 1 teams did not need corners which allowed Porter to be available. He also said he was surprised by the Jones selection in the first round.
"I'll be honest, ain't no way I thought we were getting him. I told you I didn't think we were going offense in this draft. So when you have what they call a blue chip guy and you can get them without overdoing it, for a fourth? Give me Broderick Jones."
Joe Hermitt / Penn Live
Joey Porter Jr. high points the football to record a pass deflection in a game against Purdue.
There is an increased value when a player drops down the draft board. Porter was projected to go in the first round, some team very easily could have selected him. Foster liked the value for the pick, noting you get first-round quality without having to do the fifth-year option.
Kovacevic agrees, he thinks the Steelers have at least two of the four definitely starting right away.
"Broderick Jones, I mean you could say whatever you want about competition, but he's starting," said Kovacevic. "Joey Porter Jr. in all likelihood, unless he were to just somehow fall apart in training camp, he's gonna start. Keeanu Benton really doesn't have specific competition for his job. They're gonna throw up this guy or that guy and say he's gotta battle it out, but Keeanu Benton I think is going to be what passes for a starter on the defensive line. That's three. Darnell Washington is a clean bill of health away from starting."
Kevin C. Cox | Credit: Getty Images
With their third-round pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers take Darnell Washington.
They go on to point out that a team only has 22 players who start, 11 on each side of the ball. They both agree that is almost unheard of to have that kind of "infusion" of new talent that might be an upgrade over what you had before.
Do you agree with Foster and Kovacevic? Do you see these first four picks as a huge infusion of talent? How do you think they will fare in training camp? Click to comment below!
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