Steelers: 4 potential replacements for Alejandro Villanueva in 2021

Chukwuma Okorafor #76 of the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Chukwuma Okorafor #76 of the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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National offensive lineman Dillon Radunz of North Dakota State (75). Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports /

Dillon Radunz

This one might be a bit of a longshot, as there’s certainly no guarantee that the Steelers land a player like Dillon Radunz in the NFL Draft this April; however, it won’t be for a lack of interest. Though Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey was working out at the same time as Radunz, Pittsburgh sent offensive line coach Adrian Klemm to North Dakota State instead of Oklahoma.

With Villanueva’s inevitable departure, drafting an offensive lineman is something that will be high on Pittsburgh’s to-do list this April, and Radunz is a guy they have expressed a lot of interest in. Their coaches got a particularly good look at him during Senior Bowl week when he was given the Overall Practice Player-of-the-Week Award in Mobile.

Of course, there are numerous directions the Steelers could go in the draft, and this would mean that Radunz must fall to them in the second round (pick 55 overall) this year. There are a lot of factors that hinge on this, but it isn’t out of the question that Pittsburgh could be starting a rookie at left tackle in 2021. However, I get the feeling that Ben Roethlisberger is going to want someone he is a little more comfortable with.