3 players the Steelers should look for in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Austin Lloyd
After an already impressive performance by Pittsburgh in this 2020 NFL season, they do not desperately need many additions to their roster. However, who can make this powerhouse franchise even better?
A killer passing offense, running back depth, potent front sevens on both sides of the ball, and a malicious defensive secondary. The Steelers, to put it simply, have all of the attrition that they would ever need on their field this year. They even have a good kicker-punter duo.
Unfortunately, these players will not be around forever, whether it is due to retirement, trading, or free agency signings. Due to this, Pittsburgh will need to see to it that they have the new generation of football excellence available to stand behind this currently outstanding team. What better way to get started on that than with the 2021 NFL Draft coming up in late April?
With that in mind, here are three notable college players that the Steelers should look to grab onto in said draft. But please note that I am not going to be slapping players like Trevor Lawrence on this list, as players of that caliber will be long gone by the time Pittsburgh is ever on the clock.
Jake Bentley, Quarterback
This Utah Utes quarterback has not had many eyes on him throughout his whopping four collegiate games at the Pac-12 university. However, before transferring to Utah from South Carolina, this gunslinger was making headlines in the Southeastern Conference for his excellent passing ability. And to stand out at what is a struggling college as of late–while playing rather elite competition might I add–only makes his stats even more admirable.
Now based on this first impression, it would seem as if Bentley would most likely be picked out of the draft class pretty darn soon. However, despite the sizable amount of draftees that Utah and South Carolina produce, those two schools are not typically looked upon as powerhouse programs, so it is very likely that Jake will still be lingering on the draft board by the time the Steelers might look his way.
In this hypothetical situation, his use is quite obvious: to be an adequate candidate to succeed Ben Roethlisberger. With a passing offense half as solid as the one in the Steel City is right now, he would be a well-received newbie to help lead the squad down the field.