SKL first (possibly only) 2023 Mock Draft

[steelerkeylargo]

This draft is predicated on 2 notions. The first is that the front office will look to trade the much desired first pick in the 2nd round. In my draft I have them dealing 2/32 &7/241 to the Raiders in exchange for 2/38, 3/100 and 6/214. The second is that Kevin Dotson will be dealt. Here I have him being shipped to the NY Giants in exchange for the 5/172 pick. Here we go!!



1/17-Darnell Wright-OT-Tennessee- this pick could go a few different directions, but for me Wright possesses the size, feet and athleticism combined with playing in the ultra competitive SEC.



2/38-Will McDonald-Edge-Iowa St.- McDonald is a freak athlete with exceptional bend and speed to power conversion. He is a little on the light side but an NFL weight room will fix that. He immediately slots into a rotational pass rusher spot providing insurance against injury to Watt and Highsmith.



2/49-Tyrique Stevenson-CB-Miami-Man coverage outside corner, whose profile is extremely similar to Patrick Peterson.



3/80-Marvin Mims-WR-Oklahoma- versatile WR who consistently gets past coverage and is a contested ball monster. Can play any receiver position.



3/100-Nic Herbig-ILB-Wisconsin- kid is an absolute handful. Ultra productive with all the tools to transition from OLB to off ball (think Lawrence Timmons). Not to mention.....cutsie brother angle.



4/120-Andrew Vorhees-IOL-USC- que luxury pick. Steelers grab one of the best IOL’s in the draft at a deep discount due to injury. He can sit out 2023 while being groomed to be the next great Steeler Center.



5/172-Dorian Thompson Robinson-QB-UCLA- it’s no secret the Steelers covet a mobile QB on the Roster. DTR is the perfect fit. Highly productive with great intangibles.



6/214-Kaevon Merriweather-SS-Iowa- Steelers pick up the perfect compliment to pair with Kazee. Super experienced and sound. Playing against high level competiton in Big 10.



7/234-Braden Willis-TE-Oklahoma-in a super deep class Willis is overlooked. He can do a little bit of everything. His greatest assets being soft hands, knack for finding green grass in soft zones and willingness to be an NFL blocker.

[hawaiiansteel]

I would be very happy with this draft.

well done SKL

[Steel Maniac]

[FONT="]This draft is predicated on 2 notions. The first is that the front office will look to trade the much desired first pick in the 2nd round. In my draft I have them dealing 2/32 &7/241 to the Raiders in exchange for 2/38, 3/100 and 6/214. The second is that Kevin Dotson will be dealt. Here I have him being shipped to the NY Giants in exchange for the 5/172 pick. Here we go!!
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[FONT="]
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[FONT="]1/17-Darnell Wright-OT-Tennessee- this pick could go a few different directions, but for me Wright possesses the size, feet and athleticism combined with playing in the ultra competitive SEC.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]2/38-Will McDonald-Edge-Iowa St.- McDonald is a freak athlete with exceptional bend and speed to power conversion. He is a little on the light side but an NFL weight room will fix that. He immediately slots into a rotational pass rusher spot providing insurance against injury to Watt and Highsmith.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]2/49-Tyrique Stevenson-CB-Miami-Man coverage outside corner, whose profile is extremely similar to Patrick Peterson.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]3/80-Marvin Mims-WR-Oklahoma- versatile WR who consistently gets past coverage and is a contested ball monster. Can play any receiver position.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]3/100-Nic Herbig-ILB-Wisconsin- kid is an absolute handful. Ultra productive with all the tools to transition from OLB to off ball (think Lawrence Timmons). Not to mention.....cutsie brother angle.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]4/120-Andrew Vorhees-IOL-USC- que luxury pick. Steelers grab one of the best IOL’s in the draft at a deep discount due to injury. He can sit out 2023 while being groomed to be the next great Steeler Center.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]5/172-Dorian Thompson Robinson-QB-UCLA- it’s no secret the Steelers covet a mobile QB on the Roster. DTR is the perfect fit. Highly productive with great intangibles.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]6/214-Kaevon Merriweather-SS-Iowa- Steelers pick up the perfect compliment to pair with Kazee. Super experienced and sound. Playing against high level competiton in Big 10.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
7/234-Braden Willis-TE-Oklahoma-in a super deep class Willis is overlooked. He can do a little bit of everything. His greatest assets being soft hands, knack for finding green grass in soft zones and willingness to be an NFL blocker.

What a draft!! Thanks.

[hawaiiansteel]

3/100-Nic Herbig-ILB-Wisconsin- kid is an absolute handful. Ultra productive with all the tools to transition from OLB to off ball (think Lawrence Timmons). Not to mention.....cutsie brother angle.

cutsie brother angle is the most important of all.

[LPMAN]

I'm a little leary of Miami corners after Artie Burns.

[WindyCitySteel]

Draft profiles on Herbig say he's an edge.

[steelerkeylargo]

I'm a little leary of Miami corners after Artie Burns.

Different players, different coaches, different systems.

[steelerkeylargo]

Draft profiles on Herbig say he's an edge.

He would play off ball for us. The learning curve will take a bit but the potential is really, really good.

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)]Here is what Pro Football Focus (https://www.pff.com/news/draft-biggest-sleepers-2023-nfl-draft-class) had to say about Herbig as a sleeper in this draft class.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)][/COLOR]

Herbig likely isn’t getting buzz at the moment because he was an on-ball linebacker for Wisconsin who will have to play off-ball in the NFL because of his size (6-foot-2, 227 pounds). That’s obviously always going to add an extra layer of uncertainty. Having seen Herbig take on blocks and play in space, however, I’m convinced that he can make the transition with ease.
He boasts some of the best range and change-of-direction ability in the entire draft class. On his very few snaps dropping into coverage this past season (95), Herbig showed an understanding of how route concepts developed. In fact, on those limited coverage snaps, Herbig broke up more passes (three) than Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson did for his entire career.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Nice mock, SKL. Is realistic and would be solid - my only problem is I'd like to see d-line addressed a little

[Northern_Blitz]

He would play off ball for us. The learning curve will take a bit but the potential is really, really good.

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)]Here is what Pro Football Focus (https://www.pff.com/news/draft-biggest-sleepers-2023-nfl-draft-class) had to say about Herbig as a sleeper in this draft class.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)][/COLOR]

Herbig likely isn’t getting buzz at the moment because he was an on-ball linebacker for Wisconsin who will have to play off-ball in the NFL because of his size (6-foot-2, 227 pounds). That’s obviously always going to add an extra layer of uncertainty. Having seen Herbig take on blocks and play in space, however, I’m convinced that he can make the transition with ease.
He boasts some of the best range and change-of-direction ability in the entire draft class. On his very few snaps dropping into coverage this past season (95), Herbig showed an understanding of how route concepts developed. In fact, on those limited coverage snaps, Herbig broke up more passes (three) than Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson did for his entire career.

This is my understanding too.

Played edge in college but off the ball in the NFL. Apparently he said that he'd be off ball in interviews during the draft process?

As always...thanks for your insight SKL.

[Buzz]

I could see it playing out this way
not bad

[WindyCitySteel]

He would play off ball for us. The learning curve will take a bit but the potential is really, really good.

[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)]Here is what Pro Football Focus (https://www.pff.com/news/draft-biggest-sleepers-2023-nfl-draft-class) had to say about Herbig as a sleeper in this draft class.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72)][/COLOR]

Herbig likely isn’t getting buzz at the moment because he was an on-ball linebacker for Wisconsin who will have to play off-ball in the NFL because of his size (6-foot-2, 227 pounds). That’s obviously always going to add an extra layer of uncertainty. Having seen Herbig take on blocks and play in space, however, I’m convinced that he can make the transition with ease.
He boasts some of the best range and change-of-direction ability in the entire draft class. On his very few snaps dropping into coverage this past season (95), Herbig showed an understanding of how route concepts developed. In fact, on those limited coverage snaps, Herbig broke up more passes (three) than Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson did for his entire career.

Wow, thanks for sharing. I'm all in on the Cutsie Brother thing.

The other top priority will then be signing a UDFA with the name "Tittz", "Bubes", or "Arse" to get those priceless photo ops on the bench when they sit to the right of one of the bros.

[feltdizz]

Different players, different coaches, different systems.

and not to knock Lebeau but sometimes it felt like players regressed the more they ingested the playbook.. lol. That thing was overwhelming from what players have said.

[whisper]

Nice mock, SKL. Is realistic and would be solid - my only problem is I'd like to see d-line addressed a little

No doubt, DL needs addressed. And will be.

[Oviedo]

Love that draft.

Love Mims and Herbig picks at those points