2023 FA and Draft

Here we go kids!

Who do we draft?

Who do we go after in FA?

What holes need filled?

Rd 1 ILB or DL
Rd 2 via Chicago ILB or DL whichever we didn't take in rd 1
Rd 2 CB
Rd 3 NT or OLB
Rd 4 NT or OLB whichever we didn't take in rd3
Rd 7 OG, C, OT
Rd7 DL

FA

ILB Roquan Smith if we can cut a lot of dead weight which we can. We can free up a lot of money. He is young and in his prime and a proven commodity or Edmunds brother in Buffalo he is another really good ILB.

A true top tier #1 LT. Moore got better but I want a top tier proven guy at LT to protect Kenny's blindside.

An upgrade at Center. I liked Cole but think we can improve in the interior.

Resign Terrel Edmunds. He has gotten better every year. Tell him to talk his brother in Buffalo to come over and play for us!

Need a frachise LT for Pickett the offensive line started out looking sorry ended the year looking dang gone good.

The way the offense finished the year imho I'd keep the offensive coaching staff another year.

First of all, thank you Chicago for sucking. The #32 pick in the draft is a great pick to have.

Now onto business:

I no longer feel that the Steelers have to draft O-line 2 of the first 3 picks. I would, however snag Paris Johnson JR from Ohio State in a heartbeat if he's available. I'd like to see an LT the first round (if it makes sense based on how the draft plays out, of course, that goes without saying even though I just said it). There's also a good one from Georgia. I forget his name.

2nd round, I'd love the large run-stuffer. Sika has been mocked to us a few times.

2nd round chapter 2 - possibly a CB? ILB. Maybe one of those. Not a receiver please.

Just my early thoughts, but I reserve all rights to change my mind later

Great Randino wrote:

First of all, thank you Chicago for sucking.  The #32 pick in the draft is a great pick to have.

Now onto business:

I no longer feel that the Steelers have to draft O-line 2 of the first 3 picks.  I would, however snag Paris Johnson JR from Ohio State in a heartbeat if he's available.  I'd like to see an LT the first round (if it makes sense based on how the draft plays out, of course, that goes without saying even though I just said it).  There's also a good one from Georgia.  I forget his name.

2nd round, I'd love the large run-stuffer.  Sika has been mocked to us a few times.

2nd round chapter 2 - possibly a CB?  ILB.  Maybe one of those.  Not a receiver please.

Just my early thoughts, but I reserve all rights to change my mind later

You know I would be on board with a receiver if we're talking Marvin Harrison JR or Jordan Addison. Harrison JR is just a stud, and Addison has the added benefit of his prior playing experience with Pickett. Look at the Jamarr Chase/Joe Burrow combo. I think Pickett/Addison would be great to pair together and we're going to need another option outside of Johnson/Pickens. Johnson hasn't been consistent enough so I'd like to have some insurance on the roster.

Outside of those two I really want to see them go for a top flight ILB, NT, or DB. The o-line showed some promise over the last half of the season, I think it best to keep that chemistry mostly in place if possible.

(Nvm on Harrison JR I see he's just a Sophomore so not eligible for the draft just yet... wishful thinking)

They should add a WR, but don't forget that we still have Calvin Austin III as well.

I just don't see adding a WR in the first couple rounds - I'm fine with adding one later, but right now we have DJ, Pickens, Sims seems to be emerging, and CA who we haven't seen yet. I just think, other priorities early on.

That Claypool trade worked out tremendously well for us we are going to end up with a high draft player for someone that seemed to not want to be in the building anylonger.

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

That Claypool trade worked out tremendously well for us we are going to end up with a high draft player for someone that seemed to not want to be in the building anylonger.

I'm not sure he even wants to play football. He didn't do squat for the Bears either. What a colossally bad trade for them.

#1st round I'd like to see the best available OT, #2 round Claypool trade best available CB the 2nd pick best available DT, #3rd round best available big WR.

My top 3 picks

A lot of it always depends on how the board shakes out. But I would want, in whatever combination makes sense when they get there:
an OT
Run-stuffing Snack Jr.
ILB/CB.

Something along those lines in the first 3 picks.

Stella Nation wrote:

They should add a WR, but don't forget that we still have Calvin Austin III as well.

I think he's going to have a chip on his shoulder and that's why they won't draft a WR before Rd 3.

Just read an article we are currently going to be 3.5 million over the cap for 2023 starting off.

We can drop Trubisky for 8 million and William Jackson 12 million. There are others we can cut with some dead money too.

My top 3 rounds picks for the 2023 NFL Draft highlighted in red what I like about each player.

Quote :

#1st. Paris Johnson JR. Ohio State, Super smart academically - who is a natural leader both on the field and in the locker room
Finishes and doesn't quit; competitor with a positive attitude and leadership traits that coaches admire.

2nd. Antonio Johnson, CB, Texas A&M,  
Has the change-of-direction ability to mirror underneath but did solid work out of the press and off coverage.
Has excellent ball skills, tracking the ball effectively and instinctively taking the right route to break up the play.

2nd Noah Sewell, Oregon, LB, He’s a high-motor player, and Sewell shows good enough hand use, as well as a tight spin move, to win as an edge rusher.
Sewell has good quickness and an excellent understanding of angles, often beating blockers to the spot.

3rd. Habukkuk Baldanado, DE Pittsburgh,
Baldonado chases well in pursuit, and Baldonado has the athleticism to play in space if asked to drop into coverage.
As a pass rusher, he shows quickness off the line and has the fluid athleticism and flexibility to bend the edge. He has a high motor and does a solid job setting the edge against the run.

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/

Dawand Jones OT Ohio State 6' 8" 356 pounds that is one big ol player.

effyou515 wrote:

Dawand Jones OT Ohio State 6' 8" 356 pounds that is one big ol player.

If we drafted him would it count as two?

Quote :

Miles Boykin fit in during 1st season with Steelers, but will he be back for 2nd?
https://triblive.com/sports/miles-boykin-fits-in-seamlessly-during-1st-season-with-steelers-but-will-he-be-back-for-a-2nd/

But Heyward-Bey’s spot on the roster and in the lineup was secure regardless of his offensive production because of special-teams contributions and intangibles.

Boykin could end up Tomlin’s new Heyward-Bey.

“I am grateful for ending up here in a lot of ways,” Boykin said. “The adversity we faced this season as a team just taught me so much about my career and just football in general. The past 12 months have been nothing but great for me.

He's put in the work since he's walk through the door, if both side can get the money right there's a spot on the rooster for a big WR since Claypool trade.

Steelers should take a long hard look at Riley Moss out of Iowa. I think Tomlin and Co. got a pretty good look at him during the Senior Bowl practices. The knock on Moss was that he was allegedly not fast enough to play CB in the NFL but from all of the various practice notes I was reading Moss was blanketing receivers in practice and displaying good speed. If Moss has a great Pro-Day and puts up a good 40 time he could climb up the draft boards significantly. Kid is a baller, he's not afraid to get in and make tackles and get his nose dirty. He's got a nose for the ball, is a turnover machine, has great hands for a corner, and is a fluid mover. I am always pining for some of my favorite Hawkeyes to make it to Pittsburgh and I wouldn't be mad at all if Moss ended up getting picked up.

My boy Jack Campbell getting himself into Round 1 consideration.

Nobody I'd rather see in the professional Black and Gold than him. Absolute stud with the athletic ability and football IQ needed to be a great player in the pros.

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/03/iowa-lb-jack-campbell-steals-the-show-and-maybe-the-steelers-hearts/

I hope we can get him with our first pick of the second round, that would be awesome!

Stella Nation wrote:

I hope we can get him with our first pick of the second round, that would be awesome!

32 pick he would be a steal and could solidify our weak middle for years to come.

I'm seeing people talk up Joey Porter Jr at #17. Thoughts on that as opposed to a good Left Tackle at that spot?

Let's say Porter and Skoronski are both available, what do you do?

Great Randino wrote:

I'm seeing people talk up Joey Porter Jr at #17.  Thoughts on that as opposed to a good Left Tackle at that spot?

Let's say Porter and Skoronski are both available, what do you do?

Skoronski... you have a young 1st round QB in his Sophmore season that has had 2 concussions already in his Pro career. Got to protect that investment. Dan Moore played admirably but he is not a bona-fide starting LT.

Great Randino wrote:

I'm seeing people talk up Joey Porter Jr at #17.  Thoughts on that as opposed to a good Left Tackle at that spot?

Let's say Porter and Skoronski are both available, what do you do?

I would chose Skoronski too, but I believe both will be gone before 17 so it doesn't matter