NFL
By: Melo Williams
The 2023 NFL Draft was a great one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers showed their loyalty to the SEC and B1G being every player drafted by the Steelers this year came from Georgia or a B1G school.
In GM Omar Khan’s first year as Pittsburgh GM, he nailed this year’s draft addressing team needs with the high-level caliber of players he was able to draft making it one of the best for #SteelersNation in some years.
Via Steelers’ social media, Joey Porter Jr. is the clear-cut fans favorite by far and it’s understandably why. Joey Porter Jr. drafted number 32 overall in the second round by the Steelers is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker great Joey Porter Sr. who was drafted by the Steelers 24 years ago in the 1999 NFL Draft.
Let’s RECAP the Steelers’ first four picks in the 2023 draft.
Broderick Jones OT Georgia
With the 14th pick in the 1st round of the draft, the Steelers selected Broderick Jones OT from Georgia.
The Steelers traded their 2023 1st round 17th pick and 2023 4th round 120th pick to the New England Patriots to move up for their 2023 1st round 14th pick to select Jones.
Khan mentioned during a press conference that the Steelers identified Jones as a player that would be a great addition to the team. Khan said they were monitoring the draft and while Jones was still available, Khan felt it was important to try to move up while Broderick Jones was available and it paid off because Pittsburgh got their guy to improve the offensive line.
“He is an extremely talented guy,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “We were excited about him at every step of the process. We had dinner with him the night before their pro day. We had the chance to spend time with him in their environment. It was interesting. I was in Athens (Georgia) a year ago and took a group of his former teammates out and said to them give me a name that we are going to be back for in 12 months. Universally Broderick’s name was the guys’ name we got 12 months ago. That was the first time I heard his name. In investigating I see why they held him in such high regard. He is a really good player right now, but the upside is tremendous. He is a ‘Diaper Dandy.’ We’re excited about getting him in the fold.
“He’s got big-time upside, but I also say he is a really good player right now. He’s got a competitor’s mentality. He is wired for this line of work. He’s got a desire to be great. He’s highly competitive. He has been a part of a winner. He understands we are in a winning business. He values that. Sometimes you can’t really value that unless you’ve been a part of it, and obviously the run that that university has been on with their football program, and they have won about as much as you can win over the time they spent playing a significant role for them.”
2022: Started at LT in all 15 games to date. Associated Press All-SEC First-Team selection.
He made a pre-draft visit to the Steelers and said he liked Tomlin right off the bat when he met him.
“I feel like he understands me,” said Jones. “I am ready to get to it.”
He also left Pittsburgh loving the atmosphere and is thrilled to be coming back to a place he fell in love with.
“I felt like I was at home. I am not going to lie,” said Jones. “I felt like I was at Georgia again. The energy was there. At the end of the day, I was in love with the Steelers when I left and, I became one. That is the end of that story.”
“I am ready to get to Pittsburgh and continue to grow and continue to be the best person I am,” said Jones. “I just can’t wait to get to Pittsburgh and start the journey. It’s a whole new journey.”
Joey Porter Jr. CB Penn St
With the 32nd overall pick in the second round, the Steelers selected cornerback Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State. The pick was acquired by the Steelers last season at the trade deadline from the Chicago Bears in exchange for Chase Claypool.
Porter Jr. grew up in the Steelers’ locker room and played college ball at Penn St. So the Steelers drafted Porter Jr. as a welcome back home draft pick. A pick is not only a win with Steelers Nation but a win on the field to address a major team need for the Steelers.
The Steelers tied for the league lead with 20 interceptions in 2022, but also allowed 12.2 yards per reception, which was 31st in the NFL.
“He’s got a lot of great attributes, size, competitive, athletic, tough,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of Porter. “We’re looking forward to him coming in and competing. We’re looking forward to him contributing this year. There’s no redshirt.”
Porter was a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions and had 114 tackles, 21 pass breakups, two tackles for a loss, and one interception.
Porter had six pass breakups in the opening game of the 2022 season for the Nittany Lions and was rarely tested after that, allowing just nine receptions on 26 passes thrown his way.
He’ll be in the company of defensive backs veterans Levi Wallace, Ahkello Witherspoon, James Pierre, and Patrick Peterson, who the Steelers added in free agency after the loss of Cameron Sutton.
Keeanu Benton DL Wisconsin
With the 49th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected DL Keeanu Benton from Wisconsin. I feel Benton was a steal in the draft. Benton has the potential to be another Casey Hampton type of player for the Steelers.
Benton will be used at nose tackle where he lined up mainly in Wisconsin’s 3-4 defense. Benton will compete with Montravius Adams and Breiden Fehoko for playing time replacing DT Tyson Alualu.
Keeanu had a strong college career and increased his stock by a good showing at the Senior Bowl.
Benton is a two-time All-Big Ten selection appearing in 45 career games, with 36 starts. Benton had 4.5 sacks in 2022 and nine overall in his career. He also had 80 tackles, including 19 tackles for a loss.
Keeanu has the benefit of learning from fellow Badger and former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt to learn defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s system.
Darnell Washington TE Georgia
With the 93rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected TE Darnell Washington from Georgia.
An athletic tight end, Washington was utilized mostly as a blocker at Georgia, catching only 45 passes for 774 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s a giant human being that takes pride in blocking,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada. “He enjoys being a blocker. He understands what his body can do. He can catch some balls. They had so many weapons at Georgia that I don’t think his totals would be what you might think they could be, but he is definitely a blocker.”
The Steeler’s usage of two and three tight end sets in 2022 increased because the Steelers were dealing with a young inexperienced offensive line and a rookie QB in Kenny Pickett. OC Matt Canada schemed a lot around big sets for quarterback protection and to run with RB Najee Harris.
Now with Washington added to the big package with Pat Freiermuth and Zach Gentry, the Steelers can run the ball, split receivers out wideout, or get creative with designed quarterback runs for Kenny Pickett who is a good rusher for a quarterback.
CONCLUSION:
For this to be GM Omar Khans’ first draft as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he scored a touchdown on every pick.
GRADE: A+
We’ll follow up with the Steelers’ final three draft picks in the next write-up.
Follow Melo on Twitter and Instagram at @_MeloWilliams
