For what it’s worth, and days before the draft it can mean everything or it can mean nothing, one oddsmaker is listing out the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most likely picks at #17 in the 2023 NFL Draft.
According to Bookies.com’s Adam Thompson, the Steelers have the highest odds to select Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. with their first pick. Porter has +400 odds to be the pick or an implied probability of 20%. That’s closely followed by Georgia OT Broderick Jones at +425/19.1% then Maryland CB Deonte Banks and Tennessee OT Darnell Wright.
Here is the full list according to Thompson.
Porter has always been the free space on the Steelers’ draft Bingo card given his connection with Mike Tomlin and the organization along with the team’s need to add a cornerback. They’re almost certain to do so within the top two selections. Banks has also been hotly rumored to become a Steeler, the team liking his size, speed, and physicality.
Pittsburgh has also shown plenty of interest in the top tackles like Jones and Wright, bringing both in for pre-draft visits. The question is if they’ll be there at #17. Jones has been heavily linked to the New York Jets, who remain in front of Pittsburgh even after the Aaron Rodgers trade, now sitting at #15, while Wright is gaining more and more steam throughout the pre-draft process.
The final two names listed are Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon and Pitt DT Calijah Kancey. Witherspoon is expected to be gone before #17 and many expect him to be a top 10 pick. Kancey isn’t an ideal scheme fit and is a later first round/early second round type of player. The Steelers haven’t shown any public or serious interest in either player.
Of course, take these with a grain of salt. Heck, even “The Field” has better odds at nearly 30%, though I imagine that’s standard for a lot of teams picking in the middle of the draft when projecting any one name is difficult to do. The draft is now 48 hours away meaning all the speculation will soon be put to rest.
