Mock drafts are a dime a dozen. Meaning, there are dozens and dozens and dozens of them out there, to the point where it can be tedious wandering through the wilderness trying to separate the good ones from the bad.
I spent the better part of three hours Saturday afternoon combing through roughly 200 mock drafts from all over the country. Most were from a number of national outlets, many were from local outlets around the league, and also a bunch from various sites that cover the Steelers.
What you see when you look at that many mock drafts is basically the same names, over and over. Some mock drafters try to get cute and predict trades -- those I dismiss almost entirely because, c'mon, there's no way to predict when a team will make a trade, let alone compile a mock based on such moves -- but the vast majority of mocks really do stick to tried and true prediction factors such as team needs and player rankings.
I pulled out 50 of the mock drafts, some at random but mostly from reliable sources/outlets, and took inventory of which player the Steelers would take the 17th overall pick.
These are the five players most commonly slotted at 17. And obviously, you'll notice they all fit the two most pressing needs -- cornerback and offensive tackle.
1. OT BRODERICK JONES (9 MOCKS)
The Georgia product was rated the No. 3 tackle at the NFL Scouting Combine and is the most popular choice among mock drafters for the Steelers.
Why? Here's what ESPN's Todd McShay had to say about him in mocking him to the Steelers.
"Pittsburgh brought in Isaac Seumalo this March to shore up the interior offensive line, but there are still questions at offensive tackle. And protection is key when you have a young QB running the offense. Jones allowed zero sacks over 15 starts last season, showcasing quick feet and explosive upper-body power for the national champion Bulldogs, and he'd be a good value get at this point in the draft. Jones would also help open lanes for Najee Harris in the run game."
Jones is 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, with a 30-inch vertical jump and 9-0 broad jump. He started every game at left tackle last season for Georgia, which won the national championship, and didn't allow a QB hit all season.
Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan were on hand for Georgia's pro day to get a good look at Jones.
At this point, it's hard to argue with Jones being the pick at 17. The big question is whether he will still be there when the Steelers are on the clock.
2. CB JOEY PORTER JR. (8 MOCKS)
The Penn State product is actually the most mocked player to the Steelers overall, according to NFL Mock Draft Database, with Jones coming in second.
We have written extensively about Porter (6-2 1/2, 193), including his pro day workout at Penn State and this excellent piece from Chris Halicke at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"I'm a physical press corner that's going to get in your face, and do my job and do it well," Porter Jr. said at the combine. "I feel like I'm CB1 for a reason. I feel like I'm the best corner here. I'm here to show my talents and prove why."
It's easy to mock Porter to the Steelers because of his connections with the franchise, which include his dad playing and coaching for the team and also the younger Porter having played with Tomlin's son in high school.
There is no doubt that the Steelers could use Porter.
Still, the question has always been whether he will still be around with the 17th pick. The feeling here is no, he won't. All of that is why the Steelers have done extensive homework on a whole bunch of cornerbacks, because they'll likely pick one in the first two rounds.
3. S/CB BRIAN BRANCH (7 MOCKS)
The Alabama product is a safety/cornerback hybrid, so the versatility will help. He was actually rated the No. 1 cornerback at the combine, ahead of Oregon's Christian Gonzales and Illinois' Devon Witherspoon, both of whom are expected to be off the board by pick 17.
Whether the Steelers are interested in drafting him could depend heavily on whether they feel he can play cornerback full time.
He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine, plus had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-5 broad jump.
"Brian Branch is easily the best safety in the 2023 NFL Draft class," according to Draft Dive analysis. "He has a very high football IQ which allows him to diagnose the offense before the snap. After the ball is snapped, he can quickly work back into his coverage due to his foot speed. In man coverage, he shows off his fluid hips when mirroring his target. Regardless of the coverage he is in, he is very good at keeping his eye on the QB. This allows him to read where the ball is going and get a good jump on it."
T4. OT DAWAND JONES (5 MOCKS)
The Ohio State product is a popular pick for the Steelers, although that could be a bit of a reach for the seventh-rated offensive tackle at the combine. He may not even be a first-round pick according to this projection.
Jones, who played right tackle for the Buckeyes, is a mountain of a man at 6-8, 374. Wow. He certainly would fill a need for the Steelers, but might be more in play with their second pick, No. 32 overall.
"Massive right tackle with rare length but limited athleticism that impacts his consistency," NFL.com wrote about him. "Defenders accustomed to winning with power will need to switch up their approach against Jones. His physical traits help cover up some of his athletic deficiencies, while his power can be better unleashed with accurate hand strikes and a run scheme tailored to what he does best. The former high school basketball standout has decent slide quickness in protection but is unable to find his feet when attempting to match inside counters or stall out gaming fronts. Jones is a work in progress with holes that will have to be covered up with scheme help, but he should become a starting right tackle if he maintains the playing weight his team desires."
T4. CB DEONTE BANKS (5 MOCKS)
For those who put a lot of weight into what ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. says, he recently projected Banks to the Steelers at 17.
The Maryland product came in for a visit with the Steelers last week. His stock has been on the rise the past two months, to where he's now considered a likely first-round pick.
Banks had excellent numbers at the combine, running a 4.35 40-yard dash, with a 42-inch vertical jump and 11-5 broad jump.
"Banks stayed in Maryland to play college football after earning All-County marks as a senior at Edgewood High School in Baltimore," NFL.com wrote about him. "He made an instant impact, starting the team's final eight games as a true freshman (28 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups in 11 appearances). Banks started three of Maryland's five contests in 2020 (11 tackles, one pass breakup) but only started two games the following fall due to a shoulder injury (six tackles). He excelled as a junior in 2022, breaking up eight passes, posting 38 tackles and intercepting one pass in 12 games (nine starts) before opting out of the team's bowl game."
OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND
Four other players in my 50 mock draft sample were picked in two separate mocks. They were:
• Tennesse OT Darnell Wright
• Clemson DE Myles Murphy
• Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski
• Clemson LB Trenton Simpson
