Steelers take slightly different approach to their NFL draft board

Steelers beat writer shares how the Steelers put their draft board together.

According to Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac, the team will stick to their usual format of how to prepare for the first round of the 2024 NFL draft but it differs some from other front offices.

According to Dulac, rather than run various mock draft scenarios to see which prospects are most likely to be on the board and create a list of that, Pittsburgh will simply rank their 20 best players to ensure they will get one of their top 20 prospects.

The Steelers have several positions they could target and should have their pick of a handful of players when they go on the clock without having to move up. Last year, Pittsburgh targeted former Georgia Offensive tackle Broderick Jones and traded up to get him but we don’t get the impression there are any players they covet enough to do it this time around.

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2 Georgia defenders ranked in top 10 NFL draft board

2 Dawgs go Top-10 in the ’23 draft per PFF

Pro Football Focus has two Georgia defenders in the top 10 of their 2023 NFL draft board.

Star defensive lineman Jalen Carter comes in at No. 5.

“Carter has been hampered by an injury in the early going and has been limited to only 65 snaps. However, his work as a sophomore in 2021 is enough to solidify his top-five draft stock, as he led the Bulldogs with a 90.0 pass-rushing grade.”

Edge defender and team captain Nolan Smith is at No. 10.

“Smith is next in the line of athletic marvels the Bulldogs have produced in recent years. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder can fly sideline to sideline. You also see him play with physicality at that size, with run-defense grades of 90.6 and 81.4 the past two seasons. He needs more ways to win as a pass-rusher, but you bet on the athlete.”

Smith suffered a season-ending pectoral tear that required surgery. Whether this will affect his draft status is unknown.

PFF also has UGA cornerback Kelee Ringo (15) and offensive tackle Broderick Jones (25) on the list.

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2022 NFL draft rankings: The Draft Wire 300

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling ranks the top 300 prospects in the 2022 NFL draft

Welcome to draft week, NFL fans.

After months of breaking down game film, cataloging workout times, and trying to sift through the smokescreens, the 2022 NFL draft is just days away.

While this year’s class may lack a clear-cut top prospect, or a stacked quarterback group, it’s a crop of prospects loaded with quality depth at just about every position. It’s a great year to need pass rushers and pass catchers, as well as pass protectors and pass interceptors.

It’s time to reveal our final overall rankings for the top prospects in this year’s draft, graded across all seven rounds.

Here it is, the Draft Wire 300: