The Pittsburgh Steelers need players from this rookie class to come in and contribute right now in significant roles.
The rookie class for the Pittsburgh Steelers is getting mixed reviews up to this point. The “experts” have deemed them an average draft class that did not do enough to fix their offensive line issues going into next season. But those grades and reviews are nothing but conjecture as these rookies will have to prove themselves every week going forward.
Only time will tell how these players turn out and that is the only honest way of determining a team’s draft haul. The black and gold hope to prove most of these “experts” wrong and they need this rookie class to immediately and positively impact this team. Many will be given starting or instant contributor opportunities for this team across the offense, defense, and special teams.
Najee Harris, running back
This one is fairly obvious, as Najee Harris was the first-round selection. Harris will have many expectations by the fans and everyone that watches as most have very high expectations for first-round selections. Not only will that deem his status high but the lack of run-game last season will also cause scrutiny to him even more if he can’t succeed early on. Now is that fair? No, as the run-game issues will likely be from the offensive line struggling rather than Harris’s ability.
Harris will have all eyes on him throughout his rookie year and this player will need to have a great season for this offense to take it up a notch. It should be an exciting time for Steelers fans as they get to see a dynamic runner and playmaker with Harris on the football field.
Quincy Roche, outside linebacker
Quincy Roche was seen by many as a prospect that could go anywhere from the fourth to the fifth round in the draft and he fell. The Steelers were able to select the player in the sixth round out of Miami. Roche was a grad transfer from Temple to Miami where he played well. His best years were at Temple where he put up monster numbers that translated nicely over to his new Florida team.
Pittsburgh needed outside linebacker depth in the worst way and even with the addition of this player, they still need to find some quality guys. This rookie will have a role on the starting defense and a major part on special teams going forward.
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are the starters and that seems like a promising duo for the defense. They will need a couple of snaps off per game and that is when Roche will enter the game. He has a nice blend of pass-rush ability while also having experience dropping back into coverage. That is becoming rarer for these players coming out of college and that is nice to see in a player like him.
Roche’s ability to keep the intensity up while one of the starters is on the sideline is going to be huge this season. He will serve in a role just like Alex Highsmith did during his rookie year and that is still a big role for this team.
Pat Freiermuth, tight end
Pat Freiermuth is coming out of Penn State as one of the best to ever come out of that program at his position. He is a solid athlete as a receiver and his blocking ability is overlooked at times. Freiermuth is such a threat in the red zone that he is not talked about a lot with opening up run-lanes for his fellow teammates.
Freiermuth’s run-blocking might not be spotless and it could use some work but it is the best on this roster now. That is not a huge feat to accomplish for this Steelers roster but Freiermuth provides great depth behind Eric Ebron and a future starter.
He will likely be an extra blocker when the play calls for it as Ebron could come in on passing downs while the rookie gets more integrated on the offense as the season goes along. Freiermuth is going to be a very important piece for this team because he brings an overall game with him at tight end that no other player at his position shares. That will be a huge asset to this team and one they will need contributions from in his rookie season for the black and gold. He could be a rookie that sees an increased role as the year goes on that starts with a more blocking aspect that grows into an all-around role for this offense.
Kendrick Green, center
Kendrick Green played a lot more guard than he did center in college at Illinois but the Steelers saw something in this player. He is a solid prospect coming into the NFL but it will be interesting to see if he can continue to make the transition from guard to center. This is one of the biggest question marks for the team this year and Green has to be the answer.
Success will rely a lot on if this player can step in on day one and be a positive contributor in the offensive trenches for Pittsburgh when the season begins. He is a nasty and physical player and many fans will grow to love him during his playing days. The only major question is if he can become a good center in the NFL after having a short stint at the position in college.
The coaching staff has high hopes for this rookie and the fans should as well. He will likely be the day one starter in the middle of the offensive line and with that comes big commitments. The center must communicate and decipher things before the snap and then actually snap the ball accurately and quickly block the man in front of them. It will be a tall task for this rookie but he will have to play well for this team to go where they want to this season.
The Steelers will need these players to have a good rookie season if they want this team to have success. It will be a tricky season for the team as they continue to try to find answers to vacancies left behind from the offseason.