Offensive tackle
As weak as this upcoming class is at the running back position, it more than makes up for it with an impressive group of offensive tackles. The Steelers haven’t spend as much as a second-round pick on an offensive tackle since taking Mike Adams in 2012, and since that time, they haven’t spent more than a third-round pick at the position (Chukwuma Okorafor in 2018).
Neglecting the position obviously hasn’t been working very well, as the Steelers are now experiencing some of the worst offensive line play they have been in years. They could also be starting to feel the effects of life without Mike Munchak. Either way, offensive tackle has now become an area of weakness on the team. While Pittsburgh may be able to retain Zach Banner on a cheap deal after suffering an ACL tear in 2020, there’s no guarantee that he will prove to be starting-level material. Meanwhile, Alejandro Villanueva is set to become a free agent in 2021 and he could even elect to retire.
The 2021 NFL Draft class has as many as 6 offensive tackles who could prove to be worth a first-round draft choice, and though it is a coveted position, it’s possible the Steelers could land a solid prospect – even potentially picking late in the first round. Players like Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater or Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood make a lot of sense if either is available.