4 winners and 3 losers from Steelers 2021 NFL draft results

The Steelers certainly have a few new winners and losers after they concluded their 2021 NFL draft.

The Steelers draft concluded, and the intentions seemed pretty clear. The team built their run game up, but it came at a cost. There were plenty of winners both from the draft class and on the team. Likewise, there were almost just as many losers as the team seemed very focused on their most upfront needs. Here are the four winners and three losers from the Steelers 2021 NFL draft.

Winner: The Run Game

While one could easily argue the value of selecting a running back in the first, the team was set on investing heavily in their run game this draft. The team’s first four picks all went towards rebuilding the run game in some sort of way. Najee Harris was the best running back prospect in the class, and the team added two road graders in the third and fourth rounds along the line. While both may not start year one, long term they should add some extra power to the team’s offense.

Arguably the most underrated addition to the running game was Pat Freiermuth in the second round. This was good value for him as he projects as a solid all-around tight end. He isn’t a complete blocker yet, but he has the frame and the willingness to improve there. The Steelers have not had a complete tight end since Heath Miller retired. If Freiermuth can improve as a blocker, he could start sooner than later. At the very least, the offensive focus in this draft was on getting that run game back on track. Easily, the run game is the biggest winner of the draft.