4 winners and 3 losers from Steelers 2021 NFL draft results

Winner: B.J. Finney

The Steelers shockingly waited until the third round to address the center position, and while Kendrick Green looks like a good prospect, he doesn’t have a plethora of center experience. His college tape makes him look like a physical mauler in the mold of Kevin Dotson, and he will likely have a similar role in year one. I can’t foresee him going from third-round guard to starting center by week one.

This means, almost by default, B.J. Finney will take on the role of starting center for at least the beginning of the year. This shouldn’t spell doom for any fans, as Finney actually played some good football before with the team. He played enough as an interior reserve to get four million dollars a season last year. While that obviously didn’t last, it doesn’t mean he can’t revert back and put up some solid play this season.

This isn’t any sort of knock-on Green either, as long term he should develop into the starting center. Initially, it seems as though Finney will hold down the position as Green gets more experience as a center. Long term, I don’t doubt that Green becomes the Steelers starting center, but Finney is the winner in the short term. He can rebuild his value and ideally earn a bigger contract next season.