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++
Round 2: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State
The prime offensive tackles were off the board so the Steelers took the best player available at a position of need. Pat Freiermuth is a good receiver and shows the potential to be a very good blocker. He has good hands with enough speed (4.72/40) to rip it up the seem. Freiermuth has the qualities the team likes in their in-line TEs. He was a team captain at Penn State. I didn’t love his tape, but he was the 2nd best TE in the class and his upside is undeniable. Grade: B
Round 3: Kendrick Green, C, Illinois
Kendrick Green is a strong run blocker with extensive zone experience. Stout at the point of attack, he has good movement skills for pulling and trapping. Green consistently handles his primary assignment and gets to the 2nd level as a move blocker. He is a solid pass blocker, and a durable player with 33 straight starts in his career. Green will challenge B.J. Finney for starting center duties. Grade: B+
Round 4: Dan Moore Jr., OT, Texas A&M
It was a little early to draft a reserve o-linemen, which is what Dan Moore figures to be. He is good at both run and pass blocking, but not great at anything. Moore could be a solid backup swing tackle. He probably would have been on the board later in the draft and WR would’ve been a better value pick since good ones were still available. Grade: C-
Round 4 (comp): Buddy Johnson, ILB, Texas A&M
Okay, we have Devin Bush, Vince Williams, Robert Spillane, and Ulysees Gilbert. Avery Williamson is a phone call away. Do we really need another ILB? Johnson had good production with 209 tackles and 23.5 for a loss during his career. He’s a busy inside defender with similar traits athletic to Devin Bush. Johnson ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. He is a team leader whose intangibles, obviously, impressed the Steelers. Buddy Johnson is a pretty good player but the value of this pick is questionable. Grade: B-
Round 5 (trade): Isaiahh Loudermilk, DL, Wisconsin
This was a real head-scratcher. The Steelers traded away the 2022 4th Rd pick to move down to get a defensive lineman that a number of draft sites had going as an undrafted free agent. The team really needed a natural nose tackle to succeed Tyson Alualu. This isn’t that guy. Isaiahh Loudermilk doesn’t have a whole lot of pop and isn’t a speed to power guy. He had lousy production with only 62 tackles, 12.0 for loss, and 8.0 sacks for his four-year career. Loudermilk looks to be a developmental player who will have a tough time making the roster, but considering the trade, this is a terrible value pick. Grade: D-
Round 6: Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami
The Steelers needed a reserve OLB and Quincy Roche fits the bill. He transferred to Miami for his senior year after playing at Temple for three seasons. Roche had very good production with 182 tackles, 54 for a loss, and 30.5 sacks on his career. He is a good player and a solid value pick. Grade: B+
Round 7: Tre Norwood, CB, Miami
Tre Norwood has been described as a “Swiss Army knife utility back safety,” according to Head Coach, Mike Tomlin. Norwood’s primary value will be as a backup free safety. He has the size and skill set for swing duties. Norwood is a risk-taker who sometimes hits on his gambles but also misses spectacularly. His 4.58 speed should limit him to short field nickleback duties, only. He has the size and enough speed to body up against TEs, and should be a special teams standout if he makes the roster. Grade: B
Round 7: Pressley Harvin III, P, Georgia Tech
The Steelers have, obviously, had enough of Jordan Berry’s inconsistency. Pressley Harvin was the 2020 Ray Guy Award winner with 210 punts for 9396 yards at 44.7 yards per. He is good at angling punts toward the coffin corner. His average hang time is an impressive 4.48 seconds. Harvin was a great value pick in the final round. Grade: A
Overall Grade
Overall, the Steelers did a good job of addressing needs. The addition of Najee Harris should greatly improve the run game. Pat Freiermuth should be an immediate fixture at TE2. Likewise with Kendrick Green at Center. A number of promising depth players were added on defense and they may have scored a long-term punter in Pressley Harvin III. They might have more faith in Diontae Johnson’s hands than they deserve, so we’ll have to see how that plays out. Grade: B