Steelers Draft: Analyzing the best and worst pick of the 2023 class
The Steelers have closed the door on the 2023 NFL Draft, with the picks slated to head off into rookie camp, and the team bracing for the upcoming 2023 regular season. Pittsburgh had a great draft, earning considerable grades across the media landscape and sticking true to fundamentally sound draft tactics like character and conference […]
The Steelers have closed the door on the 2023 NFL Draft, with the picks slated to head off into rookie camp, and the team bracing for the upcoming 2023 regular season.
Pittsburgh had a great draft, earning considerable grades across the media landscape and sticking true to fundamentally sound draft tactics like character and conference alignment.
So while this is almost like picking which child is your favorite, since I liked all of the Steelers selections, it's time to name the best and worst pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 NFL Draft class.
Steelers Draft: Analyzing the best and worst pick of the 2023 class
Best Pick: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin, Pick 49. Overall
Pound for pound, this was the best value pick of the Steelers draft given Benton’s plug-and-play ability at nose tackle, and the fact that Pittsburgh selected him at 49 overall, when no one would have batted an eye if he went round one. Benton fits the size parameters of the Steelers’ odd front, and their positional thresholds, immediately becoming the best 0-technique on the roster.
Worst Pick: Nick Herbig, Edge, Wisconsin, Pick 132. Overall
Look, I love Herbig the prospect. His bend, burst, and athletic frame are what I covet in edge prospects. The problem? His size would be a huge outlier in the Steelers edge room, as he tipped the scales at 6’2″ and 240 pounds with 31′ arms at the Combine. For reference, both starting edge players in Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt are over 6’3″, play in the 250’s-260’s and have over 33′ arms. Herbig has the potential to overcome this though so hopefully he finds a role as a designated pass rusher.
You then have to consider that there were other edge players like Clemson's KJ Henry or Michigans Mike Morris still on the board, both of whom fit better in the Steelers scheme.
Both of these players will look to be considerable attributions to Pittsburgh's defense and as I stated, I have an appreciation for Herbig, I am just a little skeptical of his role as of now. But in the end, this class has the makings of one that will be special.
