The Steelers will soon start their offseason preparations for the NFL Draft. Here are five players they are sure to fall in love with this year.
Despite not having a first-round pick in 2020 due to the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, the Steelers proved to have an excellent draft already. Chase Claypool was one of the most impressive rookies this year, while Alex Highsmith and Kevin Dotson really outperformed any expectations in their rookie seasons as mid-round draft choices.
This time around, Pittsburgh does have their first-rounder, and they are going to want to make it count. In a year where Ben Roethlisberger finished the season poorly and could be on the verge of retirement, the Steelers would love to be able to go up and grab a quarterback, but it might cost too much to move up. If that is the case, here are five players Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert are sure to have their eyes on in the 2021 NFL Draft:
OT Jalen Mayfield, Michigan
When you look at Jalen Mayfield, it’s hard to find anything the Steelers aren’t going to like about him. Offensive tackle is clearly becoming one of Pittsburgh’s biggest needs as Chukwuma Okorafor really struggled this year, and Alejandro Villanueva has an expiring contract. Mayfield is listed at 6’5” and 320 pounds, but his size isn’t the only thing that should be intriguing.
We all know how well Mike Tomlin loves his Michigan players. Mayfield is a former 4-star recruit with plus, length, and power. He also is scheme versatile and even has some upside if the team later decides to kick him inside to guard. Mayfield didn’t have as good of tape as some of the other tackles from this draft, but he looks the part and has room to grow. This just feels like a player Tomlin and Colbert will get to know well this offseason.
OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
I contemplating not even putting Christian Darrisaw on this list, because I think he’s probably off the board before the Steelers pick. However, I can’t think of a reason that will cause Pittsburgh not to fall in love with him. Like Jalen Mayfield, Darrisaw has terrific size at 6’5” and 314 pounds, but Darrisaw is probably even a better fit as a left tackle in the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, his 95.6 overall grade was good for 2nd-best among 295 qualifying NCAA offensive tackles, and his tape backs this up. There is plenty of reason to believe that he could be a long-time starting left tackle at the NFL level and has Pro Bowl upside thanks to a coveted blend of size and athleticism.
NFL teams are always in need of quality offensive tackles, and it’s possible that Darrisaw’s name is already off the board inside the top ten picks. However, if he does somehow manage to slip, the Steelers would be all over him. If there is a school that Tomlin has as many connections with as Michigan, it’s Virginia Tech. My bet is that if he’s there, he would be the pick… I just don’t think he will be there.
RB Najee Harris, Alabama
Steelers fans have been raving about Najee Harris for what seems like months now, and it’s really not that hard to see why. Though I can go on for days about my views of the value of the running back position, all that really matters is what Pittsburgh’s brass will think.
It’s been an eternity since the Steelers have taken an Alabama player in the first round (despite the Crimson Tide’s outstanding reputation as the best team in college football) and Pittsburgh rarely ventures outside of their comfort zone to southern schools this early in the draft. Still, Harris has an intriguing skill set that the Steelers are sure to love.
While he might not have elite top-end speed, Harris checks just about every other box Pittsburgh could hope for in a running back. He’s got an impressive size to carry the load (listed at 6’2” and 230 pounds), and he has been remarkably durable over his four-year collegiate career. In addition, he’s a player who never has to leave the field thanks to an extremely well-balanced skill set. He might be the most well-rounded back in the NFL Draft this year in terms of size, power between the tackles, and receiving ability. Pittsburgh is sure to love him.
TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
The Steelers haven’t taken a tight end in the first round since doing so in 2005 for Heath Miller. However, it certainly worked out of Pittsburgh the last time they invested this much capital at the position. Eric Ebron and Vance McDonald both have unreasonably large cap hits in 2021, and it’s possible that Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert could agree to move on from both.
If they do so, Patt Freiermuth is a real possibility and someone Pittsburgh’s brass should love. In addition to being a local product that Steelers scouts have no doubt had their eyes on, Freiermuth is as tough as nails on the football field. At 6’5” and 258 pounds, the big tight end isn’t going to wow anyone with his speed and burst, but he’s a violent blocker who catches pretty much everything thrown in his direction.
It’s not hard to draw similarities between Pat Freiermuth and Heath Miller as they both projected as prototype ‘Y’ tight ends in the NFL who would do most of their work tight against the formation. After the struggles to assist with run blocking at the tight end position, Freiermuth would provide an instant upgrade here. Picking him in the first round might seem a little rich, but he has the skill set to be a long-time NFL starter.
ILB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Don’t be so quick to disregard defense as an option for the Steelers in the first round. Though there are clearly more needs on the offensive side of the ball, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have taken a defensive player in with their first-round draft choice in 7 consecutive drafts (8 if you count the trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick.) Of those picks, Pittsburgh used 5 of them on either inside or outside linebackers.
While it’s true that the offense needs more retooling, inside linebacker was a huge whole on Pittsburgh’s defense last year. Devin Bush will certainly help in this department when he returns from an ACL injury next season, but Keith Butler’s defense is never going to be effective until they get more inside linebackers that can cover. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah does exactly that.
Though he only played two years of college football and had modest production, Owusu-Koramoah is an outstanding athlete with terrific film in 2020. Pairing him next to Devin Bush next season could take Pittsburgh’s defense to a whole new level and turn their biggest weakness on that side of the ball into one of their greatest strengths on the team.
Pittsburgh has a particular way of doing business, and I can almost assure you that scouts are going to have their eyes on these five players. It’s still unclear which position or even side of the ball the Steelers will choose to address at this point, but these guys fit the bill of what the team typically looks for in the first round.