Thanks to a win by the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Chicago Bears now hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Why does this matter to the Pittsburgh Steelers? Because it means the Steelers now hold the Bears’ No. 32 overall pick thanks to the Chase Claypool trade.
Since the Miami Dolphins were forced to forfeit their first-round pick because of tampering, Pittsburgh in essence has two first-round picks thanks to that deadline deal for Claypool.
In addition, the Steelers also hold the No. 18 overall pick thanks to the 28-14 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 18.
Having the Nos. 18 and 32 picks gives the Steelers a ton of draft flexibility. If there is an elite prospect the Steelers covet, they could use those two picks to trade up. Or, if the Steelers make their first pick, that No. 32 overall selection is a prime area for another team to go up and get a player they covet while Pittsburgh adds to its stockpile of picks.
