Steelers NFL Draft review: Grading each selection in 2021
The Steelers came away with an impressive haul in the 2021 NFL Draft. Here are my grades for each player they drafted.
Offense was a glaring need coming into the NFL Draft and the Steelers responded accordingly. They went all-in on offense the first four picks and greatly improved their running game while adding much-needed competition on their offensive line. They also gave the passing game a little boost. For the rest of the Draft, they emphasized defensive depth and capped off day three with a challenge to their incumbent punter.
In terms of strategy, it was a solid draft. The team addressed their dead last running game but I wish they would’ve added a wide receiver. The Steelers receiving corps was 4th in dropped passes in 2019 and 1st in that undesirable stat in 2020. Diontae Johnson led the league in dropped passes last season and already has 19 in his two-year career. I know he can be explosive and I’ve been pulling for him but he is only one drop in the end zone away from being in Tomlin’s Doghouse of Doom. There is no one currently in the WR room who can step in as a starter, so hopefully, it won’t come back to bite them.
Still, it was a solid Draft and it filled a number of needs. I recently graded each selection the Steelers made this year. Grades are based on the player but also the value at the round they were picked.
Round 1: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
This is the pick most everyone, myself included, wanted. Najee Harris should be an immediate remedy to the Steelers rushing woes. He’s a prototypical Pittsburgh feature back. He’s big and powerful but also elusive. Harris has good vision and can run inside and outside the tackles. He’s an accomplished receiver both out the backfield and lining up in the slot.
Harris tops it off with very good blocking. Najee spent the Draft at the homeless shelter where his family had lived, which shows humility. Hopefully, this means he won’t be a knucklehead like certain fake rappers who go to New York City for their career to die. Grade: A++