2021 draft: Steelers finally add their QB of the future

Round 4:

Lorenzo Neal is the son of former NFL FB Lorenzo Neal, but instead of opening holes for the running game, he specializes in closing them. Neal has been a beast at breaking through offenses and stopping the run during his time at Purdue, and while his pass rush plan is weak, he could start day one as a base NT for the Steelers.

While the position itself is fading, the Steelers still use the NT spot 30 percent of the time in a season. While Neal would likely only specialize in those plays, having a serviceable run stuffer is never a bad thing. He likely won’t ever be a full-time starter, but his bloodlines and high floor low ceiling make him a safe choice in the fourth round.

With either McDonald or Eric Ebron likely being cut after this season, the Steelers will once again be looking for their long-term future at TE. Jeremy Ruckert has the physical traits the Steelers like in their TE’s, as well as the blocking mentality they want out of them. He has seen limited success as a pass-catcher but has garnered praise for his blocking ability.

He seems like a breakout candidate for Ohio St. due to his solid play in a limited role last year. He has the potential to be a top TE in the league that can do it all, similar to Cameron Brate from the Buccaneers. He would slide in as the backup TE and look to develop into a starter down the road.