Steelers knock it out of the park in ESPN seven-round mock draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting pretty with a month to go until the NFL Draft. After a successful free agency period that filled most of their needs, Pittsburgh now has essentially two first-round picks to play with. If they use them like this, they'll set themselves up nicely for the 2023 season. In Jordan Reid's […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting pretty with a month to go until the NFL Draft.
After a successful free agency period that filled most of their needs, Pittsburgh now has essentially two first-round picks to play with.
If they use them like this, they'll set themselves up nicely for the 2023 season.
In Jordan Reid's latest seven-round mock draft for ESPN, the Steelers land two top prospects with their first two picks in Tennessee OT Darnell Wright at 17th overall, and Alabama S Brian Branch at 32nd overall.
Wright has played left and right tackle for the Volunteers over the course of four seasons, and he's only 21 years old entering the Draft. He really came into form last year at right tackle, allowing just eight total pressures in over 500 pass blocking snaps.
The Steelers have answered the bell when it comes to fortifying the interior of their o-line. Wright would go a long way to solving the left tackle spot.
"Wright would give Pittsburgh a young dependable tackle option. He started 42 games in college, including 27 at right tackle. His top traits are his strength, physicality and sustain-and-strain ability. Wright's ascension since 2021 arguably has been the highest of any prospect in this class. There are several teams that view him as a prospect who can play either tackle spot or guard at a high level as a rookie." – ESPN's Jordan Reid
Branch is regarded as this year's top safety prospect and would pair well with Minkah Fitzpatrick. In three years with the Crimson Tide, the 21-year old defensive back intercepted four passes and missed just three tackles.
Pittsburgh recently re-signed Damontae Kazee to a two-year deal, but the team can get out of that contract next year with ease. Branch can work in tandem with Kazee as a rookie before overtaking the role in 2024. Or Branch will start over Kazee right away as an early-round pick.
Reid also had the Steelers addressing linebacker with Clemson's Trenton Simpson, and cornerback with South Carolina's Darius Rush. Check out the full mock draft here.
