PITTSBURGH -- The 2023 NFL draft began Thursday, April 27, in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The Pittsburgh Steelers were scheduled to make seven of the draft’s 259 picks, beginning with the No. 17 selection of the first round, but they traded up with the New England Patriots in order to select Georgia tackle Broderick Jones at No. 14.
With the first pick of the second round, the Steelers selected Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., son of legendary Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter.
To start Day 3, the team selected Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig at No. 132, late in the fourth round.
ESPN offered pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Steelers’ selections as they were made. A look at each of Pittsburgh’s selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 14 overall (from New England): Broderick Jones, T, Georgia
My take: The Steelers further invested in the foundation of their offense by selecting Jones in a move that helps both 2021 first-round running back Najee Harris and 2022 first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett. Omar Khan, running his first draft as Steelers general manager, continued building his reputation as an aggressive dealmaker by trading up with the Patriots to secure Jones -- just the fourth time in the Steelers' history the organization moved up in the first round. In making the trade, the Steelers managed to move ahead of the Jets, who were in the market for an offensive tackle after formally acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this week. Jones has been on the Steelers' radar since coach Mike Tomlin had dinner with a handful of Georgia prospects at UGA's 2022 pro day and asked them whom he should keep on his radar for the next year. Unanimously, Tomlin said, they pointed to Jones.
Will he start as a rookie? Yes. Tomlin, Khan and Jones were all coy about exactly where the new first-round pick will play on the offensive line, but the organization's move to trade up for him suggests he'll replace either Chuks Okorafor on the right side or Dan Moore Jr. on the left. Jones primarily played left tackle at Georgia -- 897 of his 902 offensive snaps came at LT in 2022 -- but he said Thursday night he practiced both sides "every day."
Though the Steelers' offensive line was one of the most improved units by the end of last season, Steelers tackles are 26th in the NFL in pass block win rate over the past two seasons, per ESPN Analytics and NFL Next Gen Stats. Jones, meanwhile, was part of a Georgia offensive line that collectively allowed a 19% pressure rate in 2022 -- second lowest in the FBS behind Oregon -- and he didn't allow a sack in 445 pass blocks in 2022.
What we're hearing about Broderick Jones: "He's got big-time upside, but I also say that he's a really good player right now." -- Mike Tomlin
Round 2, No. 32 overall (from Chicago): Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
My take: When the Steelers traded up for Broderick Jones in the first round, it seemed like the dream of drafting Joey Porter Jr. more than two decades after drafting his dad in the third round was dead. But as cornerbacks fell in the draft, Porter Jr. landed right in the Steelers' lap with the the No. 32 overall pick -- acquired by trading away Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears at the trade deadline. That trade turned out to be a particularly astute move by new general manager Omar Khan, and now the Steelers have filled two major needs with two top-tier wish-list players in their first two picks. Porter Jr. has NFL pedigree and a laidback demeanor that makes him a perfect fit to handle the pressure of following his dad's footsteps to the Steelers organization.
Ties to the team: Where to even start? Joey Porter Sr., an outside linebacker and prolific trash-talker, was drafted in the third round of the 1999 draft by the Steelers and spent seven seasons with the team. Named first-team All Pro twice, Porter Sr. was also part of the team that won Super Bowl XL. After Porter Sr.'s 13-year playing career, he returned to Pittsburgh as a defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach until 2018. Because of his dad's ties to the organization, Porter Jr. grew up in Pittsburgh and around the Steelers' facility, making friends with people like Mike Tomlin's sons Mason and Dino.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time: Being a legacy player doesn't give Porter Jr. an automatic starting spot opposite of free agent acquisition Patrick Peterson. He'll have to earn it at training camp like every other player -- but defensive coordinator Teryl Austin anticipates seeing Porter Jr. on the field sooner rather than later. "We're looking forward to him coming in, competing, having an opportunity to help us win games this year," Austin said Friday night. "There's no redshirts, none of that stuff. So hopefully when he gets in here, we'll get right to work."
Round 2, No. 49 overall: Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
My take: In selecting Benton, the Steelers checked off another position of need by adding depth to the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said the team will start Benton off as a nose tackle, but the team envisions expanding his role beyond that. In his final season at Wisconsin, Benton racked up 4.5 sacks, 36 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He figures to be a complementary piece to Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi, and he infuses an aging position group with youth, steadying it for the future.
What we're hearing about Benton: "He's a big body, but he's not one of those guys. He's not a two-down guy. So he'll have some chance to be a guy that can move out and play in on third down and do some things in terms of penetrating and rushing and all those things." -- Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Round 3, No. 93 overall (from Carolina): Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
My take: Have a draft, Omar Khan. The Steelers got the best available on the board, per ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., when they snagged Washington with the No. 93 pick. Earlier in the round, Khan traded No. 80 overall to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for No. 93 and No. 132. Not only did the Steelers get more draft capital, they also secured a versatile offensive weapon in Washington. A 6-foot-7, 264-pound tight end, Washington ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. His size and speed make him a standout blocker and a potent red zone threat -- especially if coupled with Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers' other dynamic tight end.
What they're saying "I had no injuries with my knees, never. I mean, knock on wood. I never tore anything in the knees, anything like that. I only had a knee surgery on the right knee, but that was just cartilage flared up. They just went in there and cleaned it. That's all it was. No breaks, no fracture, nothing." -- Washington, explaining potential medical concerns that caused him to slide.
Round 4, No. 132 overall (from Carolina): Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin
My take: Death, taxes and the Steelers drafting a current player's brother. This time, the Steelers added linebacker Nick Herbig, brother of offensive lineman Nate Herbig, who they added in free agency. At 6-2, 240 pounds, Nick Herbig is a fraction of his older brother's size -- and he's undersized for an edge rusher. Even so, outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin said they'll start Nick Herbig with the outside linebacker group, and while they're comfortable with his current frame, Martin didn't rule out having Nick Herbig add some weight. The Steelers have two solid outside linebackers in fellow Wisconsin product T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but they added Nick Herbig in hopes of finding the consistent rotational piece that's eluded them since Bud Dupree left in free agency.
What we're hearing about Nick Herbig: "I came in the building screaming, 'Come on, let's get him here. Nick Herbig is a stud, absolute stud.' If there's one guy I can't block, it's Nick Herbig." -- OL Nate Herbig on the pitch he gave the Steelers' brass after he signed with Pittsburgh in free agency.
Round 7, No. 241 overall: Cory Trice, CB, Purdue
My take: The Steelers doubled up on a position of need with Trice. As the No. 14 corner in ESPN Draft Analyst Matt Miller's positional rankings, Trice is a great value pick in a deep corner class. He's another press corner who gives depth to a room that already includes second-round pick Joey Porter Jr., and veterans Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace. It also means the Steelers could move on from Ahkello Witherspoon, who spent much of 2022 injured. At 6-3, 215-pounds, Trice also has similar size and length to Porter Jr. -- something that excites the Steelers' coaching staff.
Round 7, No. 251 overall (from L.A. Rams -- compensatory pick): Spencer Anderson, OL, Maryland
My take: The Steelers ended the draft how they started it with an offensive lineman. Anderson, a guard, is a depth pick and is only a fringe roster candidate with plenty of depth already in the position room. Even so, he started 13 games last season, 12 coming at right guard and one at right tackle. He's a versatile player, an important quality in an end-of-the-roster guy.