Draft Prep 101: How QB Class Can Affect Whom the Steelers Pick in the 17th Pick

Every day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will prepare you for this month’s NFL Draft by posting its daily “Draft 101” podcast. Former NFL and college scout and current host of Steelers Nation Radio, Matt Williamson, joins Tim Benz for the daily podcast that breaks down players who are eligible to sign up for different location pools.

Our final entry examines linebackers and quarterbacks.


With the NFL Draft approaching last year, we spent the entire month of April talking almost exclusively about whether or not the Pittsburgh Steelers would draft a quarterback with the 20th overall pick. Since they ended up picking Kenny Pickett from Pitt, that means we’ve spent almost no time discussing QBs in 2023.

Steelers fans shouldn’t completely ignore the season, though, since franchises rotate up and down the draft board across trades, it could affect how many passers come off the plate within the top 50 picks.

By the stretch, the more selected means more non-QB prospects named to the Steelers roster will remain in the top 50, as the Steelers currently hold three draft picks. Williamson opines that up to five quarterbacks can be selected in that span. They are (in the order of their order):

1. CJ Stroud (Ohio State): “Was there ever a good Ohio State quarterback in the pros?” Williamson asked, regarding the enormous talent gathered in Columbus. “But the more I watch him, the more I think he’s really good (regardless of) who’s around him.”

2. Bryce Young (Alabama): “Young has a strange sense for the game,” Williamson said, adding one caveat. “Young’s size (6-foot-1, 194 pounds) bothers me to no end. … He doesn’t see the field. It’s the ability to be the same player in Week 16 that you are in the preseason, let alone three years ago. It’s just a durability thing.” With him. He’s very young.”

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3. Anthony Richardson (FL): “I want to know his work ethic. Will Jalen Hurts be dedicated to improving his throwing football,” Williamson said. “I don’t know.”

4. Will Levis (Kentucky): “I almost put Hendon Hooker in front of Levis. I have a lot of doubts about Levis,” Williamson said. “His decision-making, his accuracy, is not great. But he doesn’t benefit from having the supporting cast of Stroud and Young.”

5. Hendon Hooker (Tennessee): “I think Hooker might sneak into (the) first round,” Williamson said. “It strikes him that he’s so old (25), and that he’s injured. But his bar is really good. A team like the Vikings would be perfect for him.”

on ESPN said Mel Kipper Jr That Pickett would be no better than the fifth-best quarterback in this year’s draft. I don’t agree with that. Neither will Williamson. We both feel he would finish third, at worst.

May be out of the house version is (v). “The (current) version will never be like that,” said Williamson.

Similar to the quarterback conversation, with Nagy Harris and Jaylen Warren atop the running back depth chart, the Steelers are unlikely to pick a running back during the first two days of the draft. So how many running backs might go into the top 50 to save prospects on the Steelers’ plate? Williamson is expecting just two: Jahmir Gibbs from Alabama and Pejan Robinson from Texas.

“Jahmyr Gibbs is an exceptional, youngest, great receiver. Moving. “It’s an early pick any time he gets out,” said Williamson. “Bijan Robinson is the best running back I’ve seen at least in the last 15 years. Robinson might be the best running back in this draft. If I’m just doing the tape analysis, Jalen Carter (Georgia defensive lineman) might be the only guy I have a higher score on.” in it “.

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Also, on the podcast, Williamson and I talk more about Pickett’s development, Pete’s running back Israel Abanikanda and when (or if) the Steelers have slumped throughout this year.

Listen: Tim Benz and Matt Williamson talk the Steelers draft: QBs and RBs

Tim Benz is a writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be retweeted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise specified.

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