5 reasons Steelers could go EDGE with the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Tommy Jaggi
The Steelers hold the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft this year. Here’s why they could realistically select an edge defender in round one.
With the 2021 NFL Draft now just weeks away, everyone is taking a stab at who the Steelers will be drafting with the 24th overall pick this year. History tells us that Pittsburgh is highly unlikely to trade up to land a player they have their eye on, and there is almost no chance that they trade back.
There are going to be a handful of quality prospects available to the Steelers when they are on the clock, but they may not go the direction everyone expects them to early in the draft. While we all can agree that running back, center and offensive tackle are huge needs for this team, we cannot rule out the possibility of them drafting an edge defender with their first selection. In fact, I would go as far as to say that this could be the most likely scenario. Here are five reasons why the Steelers could likely go with an edge defender in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft:
1. Steelers value the position as much as anyone
This isn’t a cliche, and history tells you that this is more than just an opinion. Dating back since the ’90s, Pittsburgh has put a high emphasis on their outside linebacker position, and getting pressure on the quarterback was always key to their success. In recent years, this has been more true than ever. With their last 7 first-round selections, the Steelers have used 3 of them on an edge defender in the first round: Jaris Jones (2013), Bud Dupree (2015), and T.J. Watt (2017).
Though Jones was clearly a bust, to begin with, it didn’t scare Pittsburgh away from loading up with draft capital on the position just a few years later. With only one of these players remaining on the roster after losing Bud Dupree this offseason, it shouldn’t shock anyone to see them grab a talented pass rusher with the 24th overall selection this year. They value this position as much as any team in the league.