Mock Draft: How the Steelers Ended Up Drafting Maryland CB Deonte Banks

The Pittsburgh Steelers land a cornerback with huge upside, but the journey to draft him wasn't easy.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers watched as one name at the top of their draft board was plucked away. Then another. Then another. And another. Only to find themselves sitting there, the 17th pick on the clock, only minutes to make a decision on their first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft - and they selected Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks. 

Fictionally, of course. 

Working as the Steelers in FanNation's first Mock Draft of the offseason, it ended up being slim pickings for Pittsburgh by the time 17 rolled around. With 31 other reporters, all with immense knowledge of the team they were representing, I watched as three cornerbacks and seemingly all the offensive tackles got selected before my pick. 

Heading into the mock draft, my board for the Steelers felt pretty accurate: 

• Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon 
• Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
• Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
• Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
• Peter Skronoski, OT, Northwestern
• Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

And, of course, you were always hoping for a name like Jalen Carter or Lukas Van Ness to fall. 

None did, though. Gonzalez went 7th to the Las Vegas Raiders, Witherspoon 8th to the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson 9th to Chicago Bears and Skronoski 10th to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

In a matter of four picks, I was sitting there with two names left before having to dive into the second round of options. Of those, Banks was included in a free for all with other players like: 

• Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State 
• Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
• Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
• Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
• Jordan Addison, WR, USC
• Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson
• Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson 
• O'Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida

Porter Jr. came off the board at 14 to the New England Patriots, and the Green Bay Packers ended the Steelers' hopes of landing one of "their guys" by selecting Jones with the 15th pick. 

At 17, I was staring at the list of backup options and had to make a decision based on what they'd done thus far. And thus far, they've shown they want a cornerback, an interior offensive lineman or Dawand Jones. 

Addison doesn't seem to be on their radar anymore; Murphy and Bresee haven't had much attention from the Steelers since their Pro Day, and Jones has been a clear-cut favorite of their tackle options. 

When it came to cornerback, Ringo has been their favorite, but just like Jones, the thought was there that both will be available at 32.

If Banks was gone, it would have been Jones. The Steelers have taken him out to dinner at his Pro Day, met with him at the NFL Combine and Senior Bowl, and have brought him in for a top 30 visit. 

They haven't done this much with any other tackle. 

With Banks on the board, though, there was a clear name above the rest, and the Steelers would see it that way as well. With three picks in the top 50, they have the ability to take the best player on the board while also addressing a need. Banks fit both categories. 

Sitting at 17 won't be an easy time for the Steelers as they patiently wait for someone on the top of their list to drop into the teens. This time, it didn't happen. 

They'd be happy with Banks. Fans should be happy with a cornerback who ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and stands 6'1", 200 pounds. And with the 17th pick in Fan Nation's Mock Draft, he ended up a Steeler. 

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