While the Steelers will certainly see some contributions from their rookie class, these four prospects have way too high of expectations as of now.
The Steelers landed nine solid draft prospects during the 2021 NFL draft. While quite a few of these rookies will see some playing time this season, there seems to be some word being spread about how much of an impact this class will have right away.
Najee Harris is a slam dunk starter assuming he can stay healthy, but after that, it would be wise to temper expectations. Here are the four Steelers draft picks that have too high of expectations on them right now.
Tre Norwood
While Tre Norwood was only a seventh-round draft pick, some murmurs have already been circling that he will not only make the roster but have some sort of an impact on the defense this season. While it isn’t impossible for a late-round pick to make an impact, Norwood’s rumors seem more based on his position flexibility as opposed to his actual skills as a player. Considering he was the only secondary member drafted in a year with a hold specifically at slot cornerback, many seem to have prematurely labeled him the presumptive slot starter.
The issue is Norwood has no defining traits that make him a good lock to even make the roster let alone start. He had decent individual stats last year, but Oklahoma fielded one of the worst defenses in college. Add in his lack of overall athleticism and there seems to be better roster options available, and the argument could be made that Shakur Brown or Donovan Stiner have just as good of a chance to make the roster and contribute. At the end of the day, expect Norwood to be battling for a roster spot, not a starting spot on this 2021 roster.
Pat Freiermuth
Let’s be clear before going into this: Pat Freiermuth was a good pick in the second round and long term he should be counted on as being the starter next season. The issue right now is that the rumor is circling that the Steelers are set to move forward with Eric Ebron as the reserve tight end and Freiermuth as the starter this season. Despite Ebron’s struggles last season, he should comfortably be counted on to be the starter.
While Ebron isn’t a perfect player, he proved to be a fine receiving weapon for the Steelers last season. Ben Roethlisberger used him as a safety valve, and it should be expected that he resumes that role this year. On the other side of things, rookie tight ends usually need a season or two before really hitting their stride. Freiermuth will likely be no different, as his first season as a pro will likely not be anything to write home about.
Will Freiermuth see the field as a rookie? Of course, and if I had to guess he will likely see a similar number of snaps as Vance McDonald did last season (in the 40-45 percent realm) and at his best put up a rookie season similar to Cole Kmet. That said, he won’t be the starter unless an injury occurs and his overall production in his rookie year won’t be anything extravagant.
Quincy Roche
Out of the four names on this list, Quincy Roche has the best chance of being a significant contributor in his rookie season. This isn’t due to him being an amazing prospect or a talent that the Steelers can’t keep off the field, but the team has few options in terms of reserve edge rushers. Roche was a great value in the sixth round but expecting him to be a regular face on the defense and be productive is a stretch.
As of now, the hype Roche is getting in terms of the snaps he is set to receive is valid. The third edge rusher on the depth chart figures to rotate in 5-15 percent of the defensive snaps per game while also being a key special team’s option. As long as the roster stays as is, Roche is the most likely in line to receive these snaps. The issue is, will he be able to play effectively despite being a late-round pick. Odds say no, and while he could be in line to see some significant playing time, that may not translate to results.
Long-term Roche has the potential to be a great rotational player and potentially even a starter if he develops properly. The issue is, he may not be ready for that role as a rookie sixth-round pick. In all honesty, this is a position that could really use an established veteran to take the pressure off the starters and Roche (John Simon really makes sense here). He may see a significant number of sacks but expect Roche to deal with the struggles that should be expected from a sixth-round pick.
Kendrick Green
This is one I have really struggled to grasp. Kendrick Green is a fine developmental prospect as a center, but the odds that he comes in and starts from week one seems unlikely. This has little to do with Green as an individual. Sure, he is a little undersized, but he tested as an incredible athlete and had a physical, mauling nature during his time at Illinois. Add in the fact that he was only a junior last season, and the sky is the limit for him.
The problem with him this season is that everyone in Steelers nation has instantly labeled Green as the starter over B.J. Finney. While long-term this should be the case, in the short term it seems likely that Finney gets the nod as he has significantly more experience actually playing center. Compare that to Green, who played the majority of his college snaps at guard, and suddenly the move to center means he needs to learn the position.
Despite similar roles, the offensive line has significant differences between each of the positions. Kevin Dotson commented last year just how different it was to play on a different side of the line despite it still being a guard position. While Green can successfully transition to center, to expect that move to reap instantaneous results is foolish. The move could happen sometime this season, but Finney having played significantly more snaps at center is a huge plus for his odds of starting.
The Steelers had a solid draft class overall, and quite a few players should see significant snaps. That said, outside of Harris, this class doesn’t have a significant day-one contributor seemingly on the roster. While long-term this class should yield quite a few starters, some of the expectations for this season seem unrealistic.