Steelers stay close to home in round one of latest mock draft
A selection that makes too much sense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers own the 17th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, a median pick, but one that can produce a valuable starter if approached the right way.
With glaring needs at positions of significance, (corner and tackle) many in draft media believe they will go one of two ways come April 27th.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, this draft is deep at both tackle and corner, with some promising prospects slated to be there at 17.
Post combine mock drafts are as old as the draft process itself.
Even the most casual of fans begin to embrace the spectacle of misinformation and underwear Olympics that seize the month of March.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft today, fresh off a week of enjoying Indianapolis steakhouses, grading prospects, and perhaps most importantly, picking the brain of NFL evaluators.
The last part is key, as many of Dane's mocks are based on credible information, as opposed to what he would do with the pick.
Now that the context is clear let's see who Dane mocked to Pittsburgh at 17th overall.
That's right, Joey Porter Jr.
An obvious fit in more ways than one, Dane laid the groundwork for his choice saying:
"As the son of an All-Pro in Pittsburgh, Porter Jr. grew up in the Steelers locker room and got his first taste of playing cornerback by going one-on-one with Antonio Brown."
Brugler would add, "Aside from the personal connections, Porter Jr. is a physical press corner who would immediately improve the Steelers’ defense."
So while the bloodlines of Steelers football run deep in this mock, the more pertinent matter is the fit of Porter Jr.
A physical corner with length, Pittsburgh can let Porter Jr. play on an island and run their vaunted simulated pressures with confidence, knowing they are sound on the backend.
Some were worried that Porter Jr. might be a mediocre tester at this past weekend's combine due to his length and playstyle, but he proved otherwise.
At six-foot-two and a half with 34' arms, Porter is a tall drink of water on the boundary. It only helps that he ran a 4.46 40 and showed off his functional strength with 17 reps on the bench.
Now there's a chance that Porter Jr. is gone before 17, but once again, this is a stacked corner class, with his positional opponents outshining Porter Jr. in Indy.
That doesn't mean Porter Jr. is any worse than the other corners in the draft, simply that his playstyle differs.
If a lengthy, physical, corner with press-man tendencies and above-average long speed doesn't scream Steelers, I'm not sure what does.
Oh, and it only helps his name has already been on the back of the black and gold.
