MIKE BROWN: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns eye NFL Draft
If there’s one thing that attracts the offseason interest of football fans, it’s the annual NFL Draft.
And in the ultra-competitive AFC North, doing well in the draft is paramount to future success. It’s your lifeline — mess up the draft and you’ll pay for it down the road.
Where and when is the NFL Draft this year?
Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are hoping to fill holes in their lineups when the 88th annual draft is held April 27 through April 29 at Union Station in Kansas City.
After having the draft in New York City for decades, the NFL has moved the draft to various sites over the past several years, including such places as Nashville and Cleveland, and it has been received very well. So there’s little doubt this year’s draft will be a big success in terms of interest in football-crazed Kansas City, home of the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
What draft picks do the Cleveland Browns have?
The Browns have gone heavy on the defensive side of the ball in free agency, but that would not preclude them from taking another player on that side of the ball in the draft. They played so poorly on defense last season that they need an influx of new talent just about everywhere.
Despite having no first or second-round picks, the Browns do have eight overall picks in the draft, including No. 42 in the second round, No. 98 in the third round, numbers 111 and 126 in the fourth round, numbers 140 and 142 in the fifth round, No. 190 in the sixth round and No. 229 in the seventh and final round.
What draft picks do the Pittsburgh Steelers have?
The Steelers have bolstered their offensive line and pass rush in free agency but could be looking at additional help at those positions in the draft.
Unlike the Browns, who have no first-round picks for the next two seasons (part of the Deshaun Watson trade) the Steelers are positioned well in the 2023 draft. They have four picks in the top 100 and should be able to solidify their remaining needs along the offensive and defensive fronts as well as at linebacker.
The Steelers have seven overall picks in the draft. Their draft slots including No. 17 in the first round, No. 32 (which is actually the first pick in the second round from the trade of Chase Claypool to the Bears) as well as No. 49 in that same round, No. 80 in the third round, No. 120 in the fourth round, no fifth or sixth-round picks due to trades, and numbers 234 and 241 in the seventh round.
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