The Steelers will have Ben Roethlisberger returning to the lineup in 2021. Here’s why they will look to get him offensive help early in the NFL Draft.
Now that it appears that Ben Roethlisberger will be returning for the 2021 season, this could really change things in April. With Ben’s return, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert may try to get some extensions done with some of their older players and I’m guessing they will at least attempt to re-sign left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to protect Roethlisberger’s blindside.
Though the ramifications of Roethlisberger returning to the team may not be felt until next year, I think there’s a good chance that it alters Pittsburgh’s draft strategy this April. Instead of trusting a rookie offensive tackle to protect Big Ben, they may want to go with some veterans this year.
In addition, Roethlisberger will no doubt be lobbying for more skill position talent around him – especially if both JuJu Smith Schuster and James Conner leave in free agency. Here’s the direction I have Pittsburgh going in my latest Steelers seven-round mock draft:
Round 1 (pick 24): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
This isn’t the running back that has routinely been mocked to the Steeles in round one, but Najee Harris (perhaps the most mocked player to Pittsburgh in the first round) is off the board at this point. Travis Etienne doesn’t seem like the type of back Tomlin and Colbert typically covet early in the draft, but that could change – especially with Matt Canada now calling the plays.
At roughly 5’10” and 210 pounds, Etienne is significantly smaller than a player like Harris, but he’s also a full year younger with noticeably more top-end speed (think Cowboys running back Tony Pollard). Other than weight, Etienne checks most of the boxes Pittsburgh looks for in the first round. Drafting a running back this early goes against trend, but the Steelers have a glaring hole and Etienne would be a perfect fit in Canada’s offense.
Round 2 (pick 55): Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
If the Steelers are looking for a tackle in the mold of Alejandro Villanueva, then look no further than Iowa State’s Spencer Brown. Standing at 6’8 1/2” and 314 pounds, Brown certainly has the frame and length for the offensive tackle position. However, he could be limited to being a right tackle in the NFL.
Though this pick might seem a little rich for the second round, Brown had a very impressive showing at the Senior Bowl as he displayed the ability to move his feet and maintain leverage in one-on-one drills. With a run on tackles early, he could be the best option for Pittsburgh if they address the position in round two. Brown would be a developmental swing tackle with the expectation of becoming a full-time starter a year or two down the road.
Round 3 (pick 87): Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
I really think Matt Canada would love to have an athletic ‘move’ tight end who can block very well in space like Tommy Tremble, but the Notre Dame product went just ahead of Pittsburgh’s third-round pick in my most recent simulation. Hunter Long is not a bad consolation prize.
At 6’5” and 254 pounds, Long is more in the mold of a traditional ‘Y’ tight end, but he’s not a violent blocker. Still, he is surprisingly good at finding the soft spot in the zone and he could give the Steelers their do-it-all tight end they’ve been searching for.
Round 4 (pick 124): Adetokunbo Ggundeji, EDGE, Notre Dame
Adetokunbo Ggundeji is certainly a mouth full and I’d hate to listen to my father-in-law mispronounce his name every Sunday if drafted by the Steelers. However, he might be in play for Pittsburgh in round four. With Bud Dupree likely leaving in free agency, there is a glaring need to find some edge defender depth behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
Ola Adeniyi is a restricted free agent who the Steelers will likely bring back in 2021, but there is still a need for one more player who could rotate in at outside linebacker and play special teams. Ggundeji wasn’t overly productive in college (6 TFL, 6.0 sacks in 10 games as a senior), but he has plus movement skills and fits what the Steelers look for on the edge.
Round 4 (pick 141): Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky
The problem with the center position is that there aren’t a lot of quality options out there. Fortunately, teams can get by with an average center. If Pittsburgh decides to pass on a center in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, top prospects Creed Humphrey and Landon Dickerson will undoubtedly be off the board.
Drake Jackson has noticeably more limitations than Humphrey or Dickerson, but he presents solid value in the fourth round and still is capable of developing into a starter if he can add some more strength to his frame. The problem is that his frame (6’2”, 290 lbs) is not that big, to begin with, and there’s only so much you can do about it.
Round 6 (pick 209): Rachad Wildgoose, CB, Wisconsin
Now all we need is for ‘Duck’ Hodges to come back so we can start a whole flock of bird names in Pittsburgh. Though Rachad Wildgoose might sound like the name of a cartoon character that Elmer Fudd would unsuccessfully hunt, the Wisconsin cornerback is actually a pretty solid football player. Wildgoose only earned one interception in 24 games in college, but his 14 pass defenses, 3 forced fumbles, and 5.0 tackles for a loss show that he’s always around the ball. With the Steelers likely losing at least one cornerback this year, this pick makes sense.
Round 7 (pick 276): Forrest Merrill, DT, Arkansas State
Forrest Merrill is exactly what you would expect from a late-round defensive tackle of his size. At 6’1” and 320 pounds, Merrill is a run-stuffing nose tackle who doesn’t offer much in the way of rushing the passer. Still, he’s surprisingly nimble for a man his size. He may be able to stick around and work his way into the base 3-4 rotation eventually.
Round 7 (pick 249): Tuf Borland, LB, Ohio State
The Steelers missed their opportunity to grab Vince Williams’ eventual replacement earlier in the draft, but they still land a guy who can be a standout special teams player in the NFL. Tuf Borland lacks the speed and physical tools to be a starter at the next level, but he’s as tough as nails and has a ‘Dirty Red’ demeanor to his game. Perhaps he could be the next Tyler Matakevich for this team – a player who logs a ton of snaps on special teams and provides emergency depth at inside linebacker.
It’s hard to gauge exactly which positions the Steelers will target first, but with Roethlisberger returning, perhaps Pittsburgh isn’t going to trust a rookie offensive lineman to start right away. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @TommyJaggi and I will continue to provide up-to-date coverage of the Steelers and the NFL Draft.