Initial draft grades for every Steelers 2021 draft selection

Round 5: Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE, Wisconsin

Grade: F

From one of my favorite picks to my least favorite, there is very little to be happy about with this pick. As a prospect, Isaiahh Loudermilk offers very little at this point. He is underweight to play on the line and has no skills as a pass rusher. By the sounds of it, Loudermilk will look to bulk up and be a defensive end (his best fit easily), but his lack of athleticism and overall skill makes his ceiling extremely low.

Had the Steelers taken him in the sixth or seventh this grade still wouldn’t have been that high (albeit it wouldn’t have been an F). The reason this grade bottoms out was that the team traded for him. They sent a future fourth-round pick to gain the rights to select a prospect that seemed likely to go undrafted.

Worse yet, the Steelers defensive end depth chart is deep right now. Tyson Alualu can play at end in a pinch and Chris Wormley was brought back on a two-year deal to be a rotational defender. It seems like Loudermilk is set to compete with Isaiah Buggs and Henry Mondeaux for what is likely only one or two spots at defensive end. I’m not sure he will make the roster which makes this trade up so puzzling.