Steelers insider hints at which player Pittsburgh could select in first round of 2023 NFL Draft
The 2023 NFL Draft is set to kick off on Thursday night in Kansas City and the Pittsburgh Steelers have the No. 17 overall selection. Over the last couple of months, there's been a litany of mock draft predictions for the Steelers. And I'm pretty sure nearly every projected first-round player has been connected to […]
The 2023 NFL Draft is set to kick off on Thursday night in Kansas City and the Pittsburgh Steelers have the No. 17 overall selection.
Over the last couple of months, there's been a litany of mock draft predictions for the Steelers.
And I'm pretty sure nearly every projected first-round player has been connected to the Steelers in those mock drafts.
Most mock drafts are just guesses and don't mean anything.
On Thursday afternoon, however, Pittsburgh fans received a hint about who the Steelers might take in the first round.
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo said during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan that Steelers fans should keep an eye on Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness.
There have been some rumors that the Steelers could trade up to take an offensive tackle like Tennessee's Darnell Wright. Van Ness, though, would certainly be a good fit in Pittsburgh's defense.
Here's the draft profile for Van Ness (via NFL.com): Nicknamed “Hercules” by teammates, Van Ness is a well-developed defensive end with excellent lean mass and additional growth still to come. He’s a power-centric prospect with force as his modus operandi as both a run defender and pass rusher. Van Ness needs to work on hand attacks for quicker block shedding and to diversify his rush beyond bull-rush challenges. He’s taken snaps inside at Iowa but might need to keep filling out his frame before he’s ready to succeed as a run stuffer and pass rusher as a 4i in a 3-4 front. Van Ness is more of a splash player than consistent force on tape, but he possesses projectable traits that should allow for continued ascension as a pro.
