The 2023 NFL Draft is just a few short days away! There’s a lot of speculation about who will be the next Pittsburgh Steeler could be.
The top options are listed at the cornerback and offensive tackle positions. Some big names include Joey Porter Jr, Paris Johnson, and Broderick Jones.
The Steelers pick 17th overall, and there’s a good chance some of the favorite top targets are off the board.
This could lead the Steelers to lean on other options to be the pick at 17. These are all still good options, just not who the Steelers might have ranked higher on their draft boards compared to the early big names.
#1 – Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Brian Branch would be an excellent pick for the Steelers at 17; with the signing of Keanu Neal and the re-signing of Damontae Kazee after the departure of Terrell Edmunds, this question is where (or if) the Steelers select a safety.
Branch could be a BPA option while filling a need for box safety alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick for the next couple of years.
Branch brings the versatility as a box safety and as a nickel defender to fit perfectly in the Steelers defense. His run-stopping ability is among the best in the safety class and just speaks Steeler.
Selecting Branch might only occur if the Steelers can’t snag a tackle or corner they had high on their draft boards.
If leaning on Branch was the Steelers decision, it’s not a bad one at all.