Last season the Pittsburgh Steelers took steps toward rebuilding the offensive line through free agency. This time around the Steelers could turn to the 2023 NFL draft for the next phase of the rebuild.
An interesting mid-round player the Steelers should keep an eye on is Washington offensive lineman Jaxson Kirkland. Kirkland noted at the NFL Scouting Combine that he knows the Steelers well. He indicated he’s known former Steelers tight end Mark Bruener and played football with Bruener’s son. Bruener played nine of his 14 NFL seasons in Pittsburgh.
Kirkland has tons of experience in his five seasons at Washington and has started at multiple positions including left tackle and both guard spots. Kirkland’s strength is in pass protection but his lack of quickness means he’s probably viewed as more of a guard than a tackle in the NFL. He will be a player who can benefit greatly from an NFL weight program. Despite being 6-foot-2 and 322 pounds, he isn’t as powerful as you might expect in the run game.
We all understand how the Steelers are when it comes to loyalty and franchise connections. Could this lead Kirkland to the Steelers as an early Day-Three pick? Let us know in the comments below.
