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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Curt Popejoy

Breaking down the Steelers picks in the new Draft Wire mock draft

Our friends over at Draft Wire have a new 2023 NFL mock draft up and we gave it a look to see how they did for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have some definite needs on both sides of the football and for a team rebuilding, these two picks will be huge for the future.

In the first round, Draft Wire has the Steelers taking Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. with the No. 12 overall pick. Johnson is an impressive physical specimen and if he can be an every-down left tackle would make a lot of sense for the Steelers. Chuks Okorafor is improving on the right side by Dan Moore isn’t doing the same on the left.

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Moving to the second round, Draft Wire has the Steelers drafting massive Baylor nose tackle Siaki Ika. Ika is a 360-pound earth mover who can anchor the middle of any defensive line.

Overall, this draft would be a huge hit for Pittsburgh. Unless Moore turns it around over the rest of the season the Steelers are sure to bring in some competition. I’m not 100 percent sold on Johnson as a franchise left tackle but there is still a lot of football left to play.

Would I change anything? Probably not but one name to keep in mind. Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson. If you were like me and screaming for the Steelers to draft Micah Parsons, you will want Pittsburgh to consider Simpson. He’s hyper-athletic and can play any linebacker position including being an exceptional edge rusher. If the Steelers took him over Johnson in the first round, I would be very happy.

Let us know in the comments what you think of this mock draft and what would you change.

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