The 2023 draft offers a number of high-end receivers available in the first round, one of whom is Jordan Addison. The former Pitt and USC product is continuing a busy schedule of visits with interested teams. 
That process will include meetings with the Vikings, Ravens, Giants and Patriots, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Each of those sit-downs will constitute one of the 30 allotted to all teams for out-of-town prospects. Wilson adds, however, that Addison also has a local visit scheduled with the Chargers.
Addison flashed plenty of potential in his first season at Pitt, totaling 666 yards on 60 catches. The following year, he and quarterback Kenny Pickett put together a massively productive campaign, one which saw Addison establish himself as one of the top wideouts in the country. In 2021, he finished second in the ACC with 100 receptions, leading the conference in yards (1,593) and touchdowns (17).
Those totals earned him All-American honors and the Biletnikoff Award, along with substantial expectations upon his transfer to USC. In his lone season with the Trojans, the 6-0, 170-pounder recorded 59 catches for 875 and eight touchdowns. While those totals came up well short of his production the year before, they helped cement his status as one of the most effective receivers in the 2023 class, particularly with respect to route running and catch radius.
Of the teams listed, the Vikings, with Justin Jefferson and the Chargers, with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, already have established high-end wideouts. The latter (who has been listed as an NFL comp for Addison) emerged in trade rumors this offseason, though, and could be a candidate to be replaced in the near future. New England inked JuJu Smith-Schuster as a Jakobi Meyers replacement in free agency, but their pass-catching corps is likely to receive further additions in the coming weeks, including the draft.
Both the Giants and Ravens have been connected to WR moves beyond the relatively minor ones they have already made this offseason. That could, of course, include using Day 1 draft capital at the position as both teams look to take a step forward in the passing game. While Addison’s size and college experience points to him primarily operating in the slot, he represents one of the top options available around the middle of the opening round for any team eyeing an offensive boost.
Hopefully the Steelers don’t waste the 17th pick on this dude just to match up with the QB savior like all the fans want.
The Steelers have an uncanny ability to draft WR’s out of the first round. I’m guessing they’ll go after one later, if at all.
Agreed. But they’ll take one, it’s a position of need. Well, there’s about 10 positions of need for the Steelers though.
Disagree. They addressed a great deal in free agency. I’m under no illusions that they’re Super Bowl bound but yeah, Pickett is going to be a good one.
I don’t think they have near as many holes as you are intimating here and that they’ll draft the “best available athlete”
Need OL help because the tackles are hot garbage. Need more than Diontae Johnson and George Pickens at WR, need DL, need corners because if you think Patrick Peterson is any kind of replacement for Sutton…you’re gonna be upset. They could probably use an edge across from Watt who isn’t entirely dependent on Watt to be productive.
They added some depth players with the only guy who should start is Seumalo who is immediately their best OL. They have a lot of holes right now whether or not you’d care to admit it.
First off, I acknowledge that what @MyComment said is true. Addison is not cut of the same fabric that the Bengals’ receivers are. And with Austin coming back, it kind of negates the need for a 1st round pick being spent on a receiver
And I agree that the Steelers added depth and disappointed in that a big need was bypassed where the D-line was concerned. Can you ever remember opposing runners blowing through holes like we’ve seen the past couple years?
The linebacker signings were true upgrades, however and you’d think Dupree will be back, as well
But sorry. The Sutton adulation is misguided. Yeah, great locker room guy but having watched enough Vikings games, signing PP was an upgrade.
You make a good point about the O-line and it’s troubling that they have put a lot of stock in their 7-2 finish, that came against middling teams, at best. Seumalo will be the anchor but with Weidl now playing a lead role in the draft and given his track record, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them go for a lineman on either side of the ball
And yet, why do I believe that if Porter is there, he’ll be the choice, even over Gonzalez?
I do believe Pickett will make a big jump this year but having said that, the jury is still out if he’s the guy who will lead them to glory. The comebacks in those last games were great and are pointed to as being indicative of his ability for many in this town. But he wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard in the minutes in between
I like to think that’s due to having a high school-level OC calling the shots. We’ll know soon enough
I’d disagree that the LBs are upgrades. Holcomb and Roberts better than Bush? They’re less likely to get out physical-ed than Bush but they’re lesser players. If the DL was still Heyward, Tuitt and whatever rotation they had, sure. Now they need better LBs than they’ve had previously.
Calvin Austin shouldn’t preclude you from taking a talented player. I’m not even saying you go first round but if your top ranked player is a WR, Calvin Austin shouldn’t stop you.
I have to give you credit. You’re the only person I’ve seen giving any kind of credit at all to Bush. Unless you didn’t see him since his rookie year, here’s a guy who simply didn’t want to be involved with tackling or hitting, in general. I mean, come on. I’d have granted you that Spillane gave all he had, but Bush? That’s patently ridiculous
The only problem with your point about linebackers is that while Bush routinely got beaten on any type of route, no matter who was running the pattern, Spillane was equally as deficient. In the case of the latter, it want due to lack of effort
And no one is precluding them taking a receiver. Given the article we are posting under, it’s just that Addison being a 1st round pick is questionable
They didn’t address the D-Line, CB still needs addressed, O-line still needs work they only signed 1 guy who’s going to contribute, need depth on the edge, they patchworked the ILB with run stoppers when we need someone to drop back and cover a TE, and I hate to break it to you but Pickett didn’t do much to verify he’s going to ‘be a good one’… He scores 10 points in 58 minutes against very bad teams too often and gets absolutely blown up by teams who have any real talent on defense….
depends on who’s available.
looks like they may have to trade up to get a top CB or OT
I like JA at 32.. wouldn’t be surprised if hes the best option if they stay at 17 tho.
A guy like Addison isn’t worth it. Everyone will say ‘look at chase and burrow’ but they’re far superior talents to Pickett and Addison.
Yes, but the caveat is that Pickett and Pickens don’t have to be superior talents to get to the promised land. I’m not sure Roethlisberger was a superior talent compared to guys like Brady, Rodgers or even Breese or Rivers….Eli wasn’t superior to any of them…but he still won Super Bowls
I get your point and your thoughts are well-founded. A “good” QB on a team that’s solid on both sides of the ball can get it done. You’re right in this regard….the draft is extremely important for a team thst doesn’t fit that description