3 things Steelers fans should be worried about entering the NFL Draft

Prioritizing less important positions early in the NFL Draft

As I stated before, ignoring great talent to fill needs is bad philosophy, but doing so to take players at unimportant positions is even worse. I am not in denial here. I know the Steelers need a competent running back to man the backfield – preferably one with workhorse qualities. However, I’m not taking this player at the expense of ignoring similarly ranked players at much more important positions.

For example, let’s say Alabama running back Najee Harris and Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins are both on the board when the Steelers are picking at 24. If you have similar grades on both players, what reason do you have to take the running back first. Offensive tackle is arguably the second-most important position in all of football. In addition, a first-round offensive lineman’s career is certainly going to outlast a first-round running back (who, anymore, are usually one-contract guys before finding work with a new team).

Over the past 24 years, the Steelers have drafted just 4 offensive linemen in the first round. Three of them played 9-11 years with Pittsburgh and were multiple-time first-team All-Pro players (Alan Faneca, Maurkice Pouncey, and David DeCastro). On the other hand, the four first-round running backs the Steelers have drafted since 1979 have averaged just 4.75 years with the team and have zero All-Pros. There just isn’t enough evidence to justify spending elite draft capital on a position that doesn’t matter as much in today’s NFL.

I don’t know for sure what the Steelers plan is with the 24th overall pick, but the recent rumors of their interests has me worried. Let’s hope they make the right decision on draft day.