4 best-case scenarios for Steelers in first round of 2021 NFL Draft

Landon Dickerson, C, Alabama (Trade back)

If not for four season-ending knee injuries, Landon Dickerson would be a home run pick for the Steelers at 24. He fills arguably the biggest need on the team and he’s is a terrific prospect who is widely considered the best center in the nation. Unfortunately, the injuries cannot be ignored. When healthy, Dickerson is fantastic, but how often will he be injured, and will it ultimately affect the longevity of his career.

These are legitimate questions that should not be ignored. However, Dickerson is a player I would seriously consider in a trade back. Moving back to the end of their first-round (or maybe even the beginning of the second round) could allow Pittsburgh to pick up another second-round pick – making the Dickerson selection a bit less risky.

In addition, Dickerson hasn’t played a game since his most recent ACL tear in 2020 and we don’t know exactly what pace he is on at this moment. Creed Humphry is another quality option in this hypothetical trade-back scenario. While Humphry doesn’t have the injury concerns and is equally as impressive in pass protection, he also doesn’t have the play strength and ability to move defensive tackles in the run game like Dickerson. Assuming Pittsburgh was able to move back a bit in the draft to grab him, this would be one of the best scenarios for the team this April.