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2013 NFL Draft: Steelers sit on 14th overall pick heading into Week 17

Depending on the outcomes of several teams in Week 17, the Steelers could pick anywhere from 11 to 19 in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into a divisional game against Cleveland in Week 17, the Steelers sit with the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The tricky part is how much a team can rise or fall depending on that last game.

In 2012, the difference between 7-9 and 8-8 was pick No. 11 and pick No. 19. There are four teams sitting at 6-9 heading into Week 17 - San Diego, Tampa Bay, the Jets and Carolina. All four of them could lose, putting them at 6-10, which would appear to draft no lower than 13.

There are three teams at 7-8 - the Steelers, Miami and New Orleans. The Saints play Carolina in Week 17 and Miami takes on New England, who needs to win and hope for a Denver loss in order to clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

St. Louis, Dallas and the Giants are all 8-7, and losses would bump them back as well, completing a range for the Steelers pick, win or lose, likely between...11 and 19.

None of this is mathematical, and it's a laborious task to factor in strength of schedule and coin toss scenarios (teams that tie records and overall strength of schedule are subject to a coin flip to determine the higher pick).

The Steelers have done quite well drafting around this range over the last 11 years. Selecting 11th overall in 2004, their highest in the last eight years, they selected quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. At 15 in 2007, they took linebacker Lawrence Timmons.

At 18 in 2010, they selected center Maurkice Pouncey and in 2001, at 19, they selected nose tackle Casey Hampton. They traded up with Kansas City and selected safety Troy Polamalu at No. 16 in 2003.

The Steelers haven't drafted higher than eight (Plaxico Burress in 2000) in 12 years.