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1. Cornerback
We may not see any corners selected inside the Top 5, and depending on team needs, we mat even see one selected in the top 10. However, the depth is incredible. Joey Porter, Jr., Cam Smith, Christian Gonzalez, DJ Turner, Kelee Ringo, Clark Phillips III, Deonte Banks, and Devon Witherspoon could all be in the first-round conversation.
2. EDGE rusher
Will Anderson, Jr. is arguably the best player in the draft, but there are plenty of guys to keep an eye on for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. Tyree Johnson has the size, speed, and production to warrant a top-ten selection, and other talents like Myles Murphy, BJ Ojulari, Isaiah Foskey, and Andre Carter will garner interest in the mid to late first round.
3. Running Back
This position is almost perennially deep. Like every year, there will be prospects who fall to day three that can be quality backs for years to come. While I do not support taking any running back in the first round, Bijan Robinson may be the best back to come out of college since Saquon Barkley. He is the only running back I have a first-round grade on, but there are a slew of names who will come off the board quickly on Day 2. There is quality depth once again.
4. Center
It has been a couple years since we have had multiple premier prospects at this position, but I think we might just get that this year. Sedrick Van Pran could still opt to return to school, but initially, he will be my number one center if he declares. John Michael Schmitz and my Michigan man Olusegun Oluwatimi will be up there as well. Another underclassman to keep an eye on is Ohio State’s Luke Wypler. He could really make this a special class if he declares.
5. Offensive Tackle
Arguably the Steelers’ biggest need, offensive tackle is a position that lacks an elite prospect but possesses some solid developmental prospects. Peter Skoronski is my top tackle currently, although his lack of length limits his overall upside. Paris Johnson, Jr. from Ohio State became more comfortable at left tackle as the season progressed, but he was not that impressive as a run-blocker. Keep an eye on Anton Harrison, Jr. and Jaelyn Duncan during the draft process. If they rise, we could easily see five tackles go in Round 1.
6. Interior Defensive Line
Jalen Carter will get most of the attention along the interior of the defensive line, but athletic freaks Bryan Bresee and Mazi Smith provide value in the right scheme as well. One of my favorite prospects is Siaki Ika from Baylor, and he is just one of several starting-caliber nose tackles in this class. The big guys may be coming back in style!
7. Quarterback
Some analysts have quarterback as one of the biggest strengths of this draft, but I am not one of them. The depth is solid overall, but there are concerns with each of the top quarterbacks. Bryce Young and Will Levis both have long-term durability concerns, but for different reasons. C.J. Stroud struggles when under duress, and Anthony Richardson is incredibly raw and will need at least one season on the bench. This class is not as good as it is made out to be, although there is potential.
8. Wide Receiver
This receiver class is not bad, per se, but it is not the level of the receiver classes in recent memory. The combine will have a huge impact on who the top receiver is. Quentin Johnson from TCU is my favorite as of now, but Jordan Addison and Jaxson Smith-Njigba will both have an opportunity to dethrone him. I will reserve judgment on the class as a whole until after the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine.
9. Safety
I think we will see at least one safety selected before Round 1 concludes, but it is no guarantee. This is another position which, like receiver, will be shaken up in terms of rankings after the combine. Brian Branch provides great value as a slot corner as well as a high safety, while Antonio Johnson is a long, athletic safety with good awareness. Ji’Ayir Brown could rise into the late first-round range with solid testing as well. There are also several intriguing mid-rounders, including one of own early favorites, Sydney Brown.
10. Tight End
Michael Mayer may not be the most athletic tight end in the world, but he has a well-rounded game and displays outstanding toughness before and after the catch. I expect him to be the only first-round tight end, but I could see as many as five or six additional tight ends on Day 2. Darnell Washington is an intriguing guy to watch. He was the backup to Brock Bowers at Georgia, but he is a big, athletic tight end who can both block and catch at a high level. He could become a top-50 pick despite production that does not jump off the page.
11. Guard
I think there will be a couple guys in the late Day-2, early Day-3 range that could fly under the radar, but the top of the class is not excellent. O’Cyrus Torrence is the clear-cut number one guy for me, and after him there is quite a drop-off. Andrew Vorhees dealt with injuries down the stretch this season, but he has a well-rounded game when fully healthy. He checks in at number two for me.
12. Inside Linebacker
I just do not find anything amusing about this class. Trenton Simpson and Drew Sanders could become first-round picks, but as of now, I am not impressed with the depth. Neither Jack Campbell nor Noah Sewell have impressed me in what I have seen of them, and many of the top talents either lack size or speed. There are very few in this class with a combination of both. There always seems to be a couple guys who come out of nowhere at the combine and burst onto the scene, but as of right now, this is an incredibly weak linebacker class.
