Steelers Retool the Defense in Latest 7-Round Mock Draft
By Hunter Haas
The Steelers are in a prime position to address key areas on the roster this offseason. The Steelers should return to the playoffs with a successful 2023 NFL Draft. In the latest mock draft, Pittsburgh finds starters at cornerback, left tackle, and nose tackle, plus more!
Round 1, No. 17: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
The Steelers need some help at cornerback, even if they re-sign William Jackson III. Cam Smith brings the hard-hat demeanor that Mike Tomlin covets and adds some versatility to the secondary, as the South Carolina star can play in the slot or on the boundary.
Round 2, No. 32: Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
Dan Moore played well enough at left tackle in 2022, but Anton Harrison possesses a substantially higher ceiling. Using the pick acquired from Chicago in the Chase Claypool trade, Pittsburgh adds a polished pass protector to keep Kenny Pickett upright.
Round 2, No. 49: Keeanu Benton, NT, Wisconsin
The front seven features some of the best players in the NFL, as Cam Heyward and TJ Watt still roam the gridiron in Pittsburgh. One area on defense that needs some improvement is nose tackle… and Wisconsin’s Keeanu Benton is the man for the job.
Benton is built like a mountain but moves like a Ferrari. He is powerful at the point of attack and agile enough to shed blocks consistently. The Steelers’ defense is already the strong point of the roster, but it gets even better with Benton added to the middle of the defensive line.
Round 3, No. 80: Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama
Henry To’oTo’o makes for a fourth instant starter added in this mock draft. The Alabama linebacker possesses a high IQ, adequate sideline-to-sideline mobility, and refined technique as a tackler. A questionable motor is his most glaring red flag, but the veteran locker room in Pittsburgh would hold To’oTo’o accountable.
Round 4, No. 120: Nick Herbig, OLB, Wisconsin
A pass rusher from Wisconsin, you say? No, it is not the second coming of TJ Watt, but Nick Herbig is no slouch himself. Owning the best pass-rush win rate (27.3%) last season via PFF, the Wisconsin linebacker is virtually unblockable one-on-one. He can provide pressure off the edge early in his career while rounding out his coverage abilities in hopes of becoming an every-down player for Pittsburgh.
Round 7, No. 236: Jadakis Bonds, WR, Hampton
Jadakis Bonds not only has an awesome name, but he is also one heck of a football player. The Hampton pass catcher lacks tape vs. NFL talent making for a tough projection.
https://twitter.com/shrinebowl/status/1619478224593117184?s=61&t=uFl97MsWz6dYR54YKtbA6A
However, he looked like one of the best players at the Shrine Bowl, and if Bonds tests well at the Combine, he could vault up draft boards everywhere. Right now, Bonds is still a steal in round seven of this mock draft.
Round 7, No. 243: Brandon Hill, SAF, Pittsburgh
Keeping Brandon Hill in the Steel City gives the defense another capable body in the secondary. Hill profiles as a rotational safety in the NFL, but with the impressive talent on the Steelers’ defensive unit, he should have a chance to learn from the best.