2023 NFL Draft: Steelers Stack The Deck For QB Kenny Pickett
By Hunter Haas
Pittsburgh pitched a perfect game at the 2023 NFL Draft. After adding several immediate starters, the Steelers are poised to return to the postseason behind the growth of quarterback Kenny Pickett.
The Steelers narrowly missed qualifying for the 2022 NFL Postseason as head coach Mike Tomlin continued his 16-year streak of finishing the season with a .500 or better record. Although the team fell short, the roster showed promise in several key areas.
2023 NFL Draft: Steelers Stack The Deck For QB Kenny Pickett
First and foremost, 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett took over the QB1 mantle from Mitchell Trubisky a few weeks into the campaign. The Steelers did not ask Pickett to carry much of the load as a rookie, with offensive coordinator Matt Canada keeping the playbook tame for his young signal-caller.
Pickett started ten games in a row before suffering a concussion early in Week 14 vs. the Ravens. The injury only kept the former Pitt Panther out for one game before he returned to lead the team to three straight victories, falling just shy of a playoff berth.
The offensive line improved mightily with Pickett on the field. It became an average unit compared to the abysmal effort from the year prior. The group posted an average grade in both run blocking and pass blocking, with Dan Moore serving as the weak link at left tackle.
George Pickens proved to be a steal in the 2022 NFL Draft, showcasing his immense upside as a rookie by ranking second on the team in receiving yards and boasting an impressive highlight reel in Year 1. Diontae Johnson led the team in receptions, but his drops issue persists heading into his fifth season in Pittsburgh.
The defense is still at the peak of its power as TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick lead the way. Veteran Cam Heyward is fresh off a 12-sack performance in 2022 as he continues to fend off Father Time. These three pillars keep the defense steady, even if their supporting cast doesn’t move the needle much.
Going into the 2023 offseason, one message was clear: Get Kenny Pickett more help. The front office inked long-time Eagle Isaac Seumalo to slot in as a starting guard opposite James Daniels. The other major addition in free agency came at the biggest position of need — cornerback. Patrick Peterson signed a deal with the Steelers to serve as the CB1 on the roster.
Veteran pass catcher Allen Robinson was acquired in a trade with the Rams, giving Pickett a third option in the passing game. Robinson was underwhelming in his lone season with Los Angeles, but with tempered expectations, the former Pro Bowler could revive his career with the Steelers.
Where Pittsburgh improved the roster the most was the 2023 NFL Draft. General manager Omar Khan was, as the kids say, “in his bag” last weekend. He traded up to secure a left tackle of the future in Georgia’s Broderick Jones. Although raw, the former Bulldog can start from Day 1 and provide an upgrade from Dan Moore.
At No. 32 overall, the Steelers selected Joey Porter Jr., son of the former franchise icon. The Penn State star was my highest-rated cornerback in the class, making this a phenomenal value for Pittsburgh; especially when factoring in how thin the depth chart is at cornerback.
The next addition came in the form of Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton who figures to terrorize opponents from the interior. The former Badger is a bowling ball on defense, profiling as an immediate run-stuffer with untapped potential as a pass rusher.
The Steelers dipped back into the Georgia pool at the end of Round 3 by taking tight end Darnell Washington. At nearly 6-foot-7, Washington is an intimidating presence as a blocker and offers a gargantuan target in the red zone. Both are areas in which Pickett can benefit.
Perhaps my favorite picks of the event came on the final day. The Steelers have an affinity for Wisconsin players, following up their selection of Benton with his former college teammate, Nick Herbig. Herbig is one of the best pass rushers in the class, but his meager size and tweener status forced him down the board. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh benefits, as it will surely find a role for the talented linebacker.
The best value in the draft came at No. 241 overall. Purdue’s Cory Trice Jr. shot up my rankings after re-visiting his tape prior to the draft. He ended as a top-80 player on the final Big Board, projecting as a starting-caliber player at the next level. Trice needs some refinement to his game, namely in zone coverage, but in the seventh round, it was a no-brainer.
The roster is infinitely better than it was two months ago. It remains to be seen how much Matt Canada opens the offense in Year 2 of the Kenny Pickett Era, but one thing is for certain: The pieces are there for the Steelers to return to postseason play in 2023. How far they go once they get there likely falls on the shoulders of their franchise quarterback.