Three Position Groups The Steelers Should Target With Their 2021 First Round Pick
Following a disappointing finish to the 2020 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will select 24th in the 2021 NFL Draft. With Ben Roethlisberger officially re-signing for at least one more season, all indications point to them drafting an offensive player in the first round for the first time since 2012. It also makes it unlikely that they will use their pick to select Roethlisberger’s successor at quarterback. Here are three position groups that the Steelers should target in the first round.
Running Back
General manager Kevin Colbert put it plainly on February 18: the Steelers’ run game “wasn’t good enough” in 2020. Pittsburgh ranked 25th in rushing yards last season, their second straight finish in the bottom third of the NFL. It hasn’t been the same since Le’Veon Bell’s departure in 2019. James Conner looked like he could be the answer but has rushed for only 1,185 yards the past two seasons due to injuries. Meanwhile, backups Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland have a combined one game with 100+ yards rushing. This has made the position a popular choice for the 24th pick, something they haven’t done since 2008. Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne are essentially 1A and 1B on most experts’ draft boards, with Harris getting a slight edge due to his monstrous 2020 season. Harris possesses a combination of strength and speed that the Steelers haven’t had since Jerome Bettis while Etienne is a receiving threat out of the backfield and may be a better fit for new offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s zone blocking scheme.
Offensive Tackle
The drop-off for the Steelers’ offensive line has not been pretty. Since position coach Mike Munchak left after the 2018 season, the unit has ranked near the bottom of the league in run blocking. Much was also made about Roethlisberger’s league-leading release rate in 2020, partially due to the line’s inability to protect him for extended periods of time. With left tackle Alejandro Villanueva likely leaving in free agency, the Steelers now have glaring holes at both tackle positions. Luckily, 2021 is a strong draft class for offensive tackles. Three players expected to be on the board when they select are Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood, Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield, and Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg. All three possess the size scouts desire at the tackle position and contributed to highly-ranked collegiate rushing attacks in 2020.
Center
Sticking with the offensive line, center has emerged as a critical need following Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement on February 12, who happened to be the last center they drafted in the first round. While there are several appealing centers hitting free agency this offseason, they are unrealistic options given the Steelers’ dire salary cap constraints. Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey and Alabama’s Landon Dickerson are two potential options at 24 that have high football IQs and were multi-year starters in college. However, both would likely be available in the second round if the Steelers wanted to use their pick elsewhere, though they could be in play if Pittsburgh trades down in the first round.
