Steelers' Kenny Pickett would be 5th-best QB in this year's draft class, says ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.

Kenny Pickett was the first — and only — quarterback taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft when the Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed him with the No. 20 pick.

Had Pickett been part of this year’s deeper crop of quarterbacks, he still would fall in line as a mid-first-round pick. He just wouldn’t be among the first few quarterbacks to go off the board.

That is the opinion of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who, in a conference call with media members Tuesday, was asked where Pickett would rank among this year’s passers.

“If he were in this draft, he’d probably be in the fifth spot, solidly behind that top group,” Kiper said.

In his latest mock draft that was released Monday, Kiper projected four quarterbacks being taken among the top five picks. They were Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud going first to Carolina, Alabama’s Bryce Young second to Houston, Kentucky’s Will Levis third to Indianapolis (as the result of a mock trade with Arizona) and Florida’s Anthony Richardson fifth to Seattle.

“Some would even say (Pickett) would be in there with Levis,” Kiper said of the former Penn State quarterback who spent his final two seasons at Kentucky. “Maybe some people would argue he’d be ahead of Levis. I would say he’d still be in that first round, certainly the fifth quarterback taken with four guys potentially going in the top five.

“Pickett would be right around where he was (in 2022).”

Kiper didn’t have a quarterback outside the quartet of Stroud, Young, Levis and Richardson going in the first-round this year.

Not only was Pickett the only quarterback taken in the opening round a year ago, he was the only one selected until the middle of the third, a span of 73 picks.

Pickett’s 12 starts were the most of any rookie passer, and he helped engineer three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives as the Steelers won seven of their final nine games to finish 9-8.

With their quarterback in the fold, the Steelers can use the No. 17 overall pick this year to address other areas. Analysts expect the Steelers to select a cornerback, tackle or defensive lineman with their first pick.

In his latest mock, Kiper has the Steelers selecting Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks at No. 17. He would be the fifth corner taken, following Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. and Mississippi State’s Emmanuel Forbes.

“Pittsburgh’s biggest need hasn’t changed,” Kiper wrote. “It has to get younger — and faster — at cornerback.”

The 6-foot, 197-pound Banks ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the NFL Combine. That matched the time recorded by Forbes, who is 31 pounds lighter.

Kiper had Forbes going to Washington one pick earlier at No. 16.

“I love everything about him, the way he played, the toughness he showed at 166 pounds,” Kiper said. “The athleticism he showed at the combine. The speed he showed at the combine.”

Forbes set an FBS record with six interception returns for touchdowns during his time at Mississippi State. They were among 14 career interceptions for the 6-1 corner. Banks had just one interception in his redshirt junior year at Maryland, but displayed his health and range after missing much of the previous season with a shoulder injury.

“One of those kids would be a nice pick at that point,” Kiper said of Banks and Forbes.

With cornerback arguably being the deepest position in this year’s draft class, Kiper could see the Steelers waiting to take one with the No. 32 overall pick, the first one of the second round.

The Steelers have signed a pair of interior offensive linemen in free agency — Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo — and they could further bolster the line by taking a tackle with their top pick.

Kiper has three tackles being selected before the Steelers’ turn to pick with Ohio State’s Paris Johnson and Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski rounding out the top 10. He has Georgia’s Broderick Jones going to the New York Jets at No. 13.

“He has really long arms but he needs coaching,” Kiper said. “He’s an offensive line coach’s dream. It depends on how much he drops.”

Kiper listed Tennessee’s Darnell Wright as an option for the Steelers. If they wait to take a tackle until the No. 32 pick, Kiper listed Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison and Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron as possibilities.