NFL Draft 2023: Who Might The Steelers Take In The First Round?

PITTSBURGH, PA — With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching, the question weighs heavily on the minds of Steelers fans: Who will the team pick with its first-round selection?

Mock drafts have been rampant, and a perusal of recent mocks indicates there is no consensus on who the Steelers will take with the draft's 17th pick. We'll find out on Thursday. The draft will begin at 8 p.m. from Union Station in Kansas City and will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network.

Here's who NFL writers from across the country are projecting will go to the Steelers in the first round:

• Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated: Julius Brents, Kansas State defensive back. "The Steelers need help in the secondary. With Patrick Peterson in house, this is the perfect year to take a swing at a really talented cornerback who can grow in the system. Brents is a bruiser of a dude and allowed only 25 yards per game in the pass, according to Sports Info Solutions, during his final year with the Wildcats."

• Eric Edholm, NFL.com: Lukas Van Ness, Iowa edge: "Van Ness could go higher than this, though he’s still an upside pick who might never develop into a true standout player. But at the very least, the Iowa product gives you toughness, energy and positional flexibility as a hockey-enforcer type of defender. He kind of screams Pittsburgh, if you think about it."

• Bryant McFadden, CBS Sports: Deonte Banks, Maryland cornerback. "Mike Tomlin loves athletic CBs with swag, and Banks has that."

• Peter King, Football Morning in America: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State wide receiver. "This is about where the receivers will start getting picked, and I’d be surprised if the Steelers weren’t seriously considering one to pair long-term with George Pickens. Corner’s another position the Steelers could favor here, and watch for Maryland’s Deonte Banks if that’s the call."

• Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Broderick Jones, Georgia offensive tackle. "Jones has outstanding speed and quickness...He's a no-brainer piece for the Steelers as a massive upgrade in pass protection for 2022 first-round QB Kenny Pickett."