The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted a pair of quarterbacks last year. They might take another one in 2023. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have a pre-draft visit scheduled with Houston QB Clayton Tune.
While Rapoport’s tweet lists the Steelers among the “visits and/or workouts” the Steelers don’t conduct pre-draft workouts with players so this can safely be assumed as a Top 30 visit.
Pittsburgh had an informal Combine interview with Tune and sent South Area Scout Chris Watts to the Cougars’ Pro Day on March 23rd.
Tune spent five years at Houston, throwing for just shy of 12,000 career passing yards with 104 touchdowns to 41 interceptions. He exited his Cougars career third all-time in yards and second all-time in touchdowns. He also rushed for 15 career touchdowns and posted a solid 4.64 40 at the Combine. He weighed in at 6024, 220 pounds.
He saved his best for last at Houston, surpassing the 4,000-yard mark in 2022 while throwing 40 touchdowns to 10 interceptions and completing 67.3% of his passes. His completion percentage jumped his final two years –under 60% from 2018 to 2020 to 68.3% in 2021 and 67.3% last year. Tune attended this year’s Senior Bowl. According to Mock Draft Database, he is projected to be a fifth-round selection. Currently, the Steelers don’t have a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Projecting QBs outside of the top names is difficult and once past the top tier, the names can be all over the map.
Including Tune, we know 20 of the Steelers’ possible 30 pre-draft visitors. That doesn’t include Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr., who counts as a local visit.
In our pre-draft scouting report, Tom Mead praised Tune for his pocket awareness and touch while knocking him for throwing off his back foot and only average arm strength. He compared Tune to Taylor Heinicke and placed a 4th/5th round grade on him. You can read the full report below.
