NFL Draft: 5 players Steelers should draft in first round

Players the Steelers take in the first round of the NFL Draft

1. CB Joey Porter Jr.

Porter Jr. is a sentimental favorite to be the team’s first-round choice because of his father’s celebrated tenure with the team. That doesn’t do justice to the former Nittany Lions star as a prospect.

He’s a true press corner who likes the challenge of lining up on the outside and covering wide receivers by himself. That didn’t translate into a lot of takeaways for Penn State, but he was able to keep the ball away from his opponent at an impressive clip. Porter Jr. projects as an immediate plug-and-play starter in the Steelers’ defensive scheme.

That makes him great potential value at No. 17. He may not have All-Pro upside due to his lack of elite athleticism or ball skills, but it’s hard to envision a scenario where he doesn’t function as a quality starter for the majority of his NFL career.

Drafting Porter Jr. would give Pittsburgh a chance to improve their pass defense in 2023 despite losing Sutton to free agency. Turning that weakness into a potential strength could do a lot to add to Pittsburgh’s win total. Landing Porter Jr. would be a good story and a great fit on the field for the Steelers.