Who will the Pittsburgh Steelers select in the first round of this year's NFL Draft? Until the first night of the event being held this year starting on Thursday, April 27th from Union Station in Kansas City begins, the speculation of who that will end up is going to be running wild from now until then.
Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison, right, celebrates with quarterback Kenny Pickett after scoring a touchdown against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
With many needs, none more overtly pressing than the others, this team finds itself in a spot with 3 of the first 49 picks and 4 in the first 100. Not a bad start. We haven't even spoken about the looming free agent market. That will shape matters further.
So who does this team need to take first and why? Let's do a deeper dive.
Starting The First Full Season Of Play For Kenny Pickett Relies On Offensive Focus In Round 1
Let's just be honest, we see how amazing Pickett to Pickens is. Imagine having a guy back on your side of the ball to sling it to as well like you had two seasons ago?
Now before you talk about defensive needs and going corner here, this is where I draw a line in the sand when it comes to arming my young franchise QB. I remind him here that all the weapons he needs will be provided in an effort to bolster the sluggish offense that averaged under 20 points a game. Yikes!
So yes, I want to think offense at pick 17. I want to think Jordan Addison. Now the simulators allowing you to make draft picks are leaning towards this as being a bit of a reach at that spot, with Addision taking on a slightly lower ranking than 17, but this is where the slight of hand work of a draft day trade could benefit this team.
Not to mention the fact that I think this team should try and unload WR Diontae Johnson at this point. I don't think Pickett would be on-board, but that won't stop a deal from being done IF it means more picks and upgrading a team that needs to score more points next season.
If Addison feels like a reach, then Quentin Johnston, the lanky wideout from TCU could very well be there for the Steelers and is graded higher. You don't take a tackle at this spot, as the window for all the highly graded players will have been taken, so you will look to the later rounds to find guys who may slip like Dawand Jones out of Ohio State.
Now let's get defensive.
Defensive Needs Begin And End In Secondary For Depth And Future
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman, Chris Wormley (95) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cameron Heyward (97) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Arron Anastasia/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
As mentioned prior, how the Steelers handle free agency will dictate quite a bit come the draft, so there are things that will shape the players taken. But I think collectively, drafting corners over edge rushers or linebackers first makes the most sense.
I don't think Christian Gonzalez or Devon Witherspoon is going to slip to 17, so then it becomes a question of who is around that might make sense on the defensive side. One may consider Cam Smith, the talented corner out of South Carolina at that position, but again, at 17 it may be a reach.
Either sliding down via trade or just taking a stab at this slot is a best guess scenario for now, given we still have over a month to go before the free agent market opens up. Either way, making the right call here sets the tone for the days ahead.
Draft Day Moves Vital For Steelers As Division Supremacy Over Next Decade Is At Hand
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 6: Omar Khan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, looks on from the sideline before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 6, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Colts 45-10. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
So now Omar Kahn is on the clock, as is the rest of the Steelers staff who are in charge of getting this right. Much time will pass before the start of the draft. The boards will go through many revisions as the off-season unfolds, players come and go. Where this team ends up will take some time to comb through.
So Steelers fans, what draft selection do you see the team taking at 17? Sound off below!
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