Pittsburgh Steelers Immediately Find 3 Starters In PFF Simulator Mock Draft 1.0

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a unique opportunity in 2023. The Steelers have four of the top 80 picks in the upcoming NFL draft and a chance to fill the holes in the current roster. Pittsburgh has not found itself near the top of the draft in a long time and this year is no different with the first Steelers pick coming at number 17.

What is different is that Omar Khan spun gold from the straw of Chase Claypool and got them the first pick in the second round. They will have three days to draft selections and the Steelers under Kevin Colbert made a lot of hay in the second and third rounds of the draft over the last two decades. If things go right for the black and gold this opportunity could solidify the roster for a decade.

This is the mock draft season, and they are being posted relentlessly by everyone online. If you follow me on Twitter you know I have been posting Pro Football Focus draft simulations for a few weeks, but now that the combine is over and the franchise tags have been assigned, it is time to officially post my inaugural completely at the mercy of the simulator Mock Draft 1.0.

I will be using the default settings on the PFF simulator, and please bear in mind I am stuck with the choices available on the simulator. If you have not used this feature yet, you can find the model here. A PFF account is not necessary to use this feature on their website and it is open to everyone and loads of fun.

Round 1 Pick 17

Bryan Bresee DT Clemson Tigers- All of the top offensive tackles were off the board in this simulation. Paris Johnson, Peter Skoronski, and Broderick Jones were already picked. Bresee did have an inconsistent final season at Clemson, but he was the top recruit in the 2020 class. He has injury concerns with a torn ACL in 2021 and shoulder surgery in 2022 but he was a top 10 pick before the combine in most simulators and seemed to improve his stock during the combine but is now inexplicably dropping. It’s a tough call between him and Calijah Kancey but Bresee is better against the run.

Round 2 Pick 32

Darnell Wright OT Tennessee Volunteers- Surprised and delighted is the only way to describe how my fourth-rated tackle appearing available at 32 made me feel. Wright is viewed as a right tackle prospect in the NFL but so is Dawand Jones who was also available. The SEC product improved every year and in 2022 was noticeably better with his footwork this past season. He is more athletic than Jones and much more finished product. He is a very smooth player and should only get better with experience in the NFL. 

Round 2 Pick 49

Jack Campbell ILB Iowa Hawkeyes- A Steelers linebacker named Jack. Need more? Campbell tested surprisingly well at the combine. He has played his college career on a defense that had to win games and score points. Campbell is tall, a superior run stuffer, and while not a speed merchant he is very good in coverage. The Iowa defense was productive and won a lot of games after extended stays on the field. With Matt Canada still calling plays in Pittsburgh, stamina as a rookie might be very important.

Round 3 Pick 80

Luke Wypler C Ohio State Buckeyes- The former Buckeye declared for the draft after his junior season which is almost unheard of from a center. He has not fallen this far before, but Wypler can’t be passed up in the third round. He posted quality times in the short-shuttle and three-cone drills at the combine, and he gives the Steelers the option of moving Mason Cole to guard to replace Kevin Dotson. The Steelers have passed on dominant centers in the last two drafts if Wypler fell to the third it would not happen again.

Round 4 Pick 120

Jakorian Bennett CB Maryland Terrapins- The combine phenom tested off the charts and is not as highly regarded as his teammate Deonte Banks but he would still be a very good option for the Steelers in the fourth round. The cornerback class is extremely deep, and the physical traits of Bennett paired with the return of Cam Sutton and Levi Wallace should give the Steelers an incredibly versatile group. Bennett has the tools to develop into an actual number one corner while learning from two fundamentally sound veterans in Pittsburgh.

Round 7 Pick 236

Will Mallory TE Miami Hurricanes- Miami tight ends are not what they once were, but Mallory opened eyes at the combine with the fastest 40-yard dash of a very good group of tight ends. He is not a tight end prospect but that is not what the Steelers are looking for with Pat Freiermuth on the roster. Mallory is a good, not a great blocker, but he would be a significant upgrade over Zach Gentry in the passing game. It would be ideal to retain Gentry and let Mallory serve as the third tight end while Connor Heyward moves to an H-back role in the offense to fully take advantage of his gifts.

Round 7 Pick 243

SirVocea Dennis LB Pitt Panthers- The former Pitt defender is not the biggest or fastest linebacker, but he is an overachiever and could become a very good special teams player for the Steelers. He has a nose for the football and could develop into a meaningful contributor on defense but he has to become more consistent. His willingness to play at 100 mph hour should endear him to Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff and potentially keep him on the roster.

Steelers Youth And Lack Of Depth At WR Will Have To Be Addressed During Off-Season

The opportunity for the right wide receiver or one of the best tight ends did not present itself in this mock draft. The Steelers trio of George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and either Calvin Austin III or an experienced free agent is a talented enough group if necessary. Especially, in a Canada offense that seems intent on featuring just one outside weapon week to week and letting the fourth or fifth receiver option run jet sweeps.

The offensive and defensive lines have to be a priority and it is likely that if Andy Weidl is pulling the strings they will be. Christian Gonzalez and the tip-top-of-the-corner class didn’t fall into place, but I believe strongly that they will in future iterations and Bennett was a nice consolation prize in the fourth round.