3 Pittsburgh Steelers players to watch during 2021 OTAs

Offseason training activities have already begun around the NFL. Here are three Steelers players we should be keeping an eye on.

Offseason workouts have just begun across the NFL. While rookies reported in early May, most players are now involved in the mix and getting ready for the upcoming season. OTAs are when fans and scouts can evaluate talent, whether it is returning veterans, free agents, or those selected in the draft, and with the Steelers, this is no different.

After a devastating end to the 2020-2021 season, the Steelers now have a vast amount of critics and watchers as to how they will perform this season. Now with the season beginning to go underway, there are plenty of players to watch, and there are three players I advise Steelers fans to keep an eye on over the next month of OTAs.

Najee Harris, Running Back

This should be an easy pick, but the Steelers’ first-round pick is my number one player to watch. The 6’2 229 Running back from Alabama is a rare talent I believe will make his way into the top ten conversation this season. We have already seen how explosive Najee can be for someone at his weight, and with comparisons to Todd Gurley and Steven Jackson, there is little doubt in my mind that he will not live up to the hype.

When asked about Harris, Ben Roethlisberger stated, “He is asking questions, and that is good. He is playing fast. The most exciting part about Najee that we are all going to be excited to see, once he gets it, it clicks, and he goes full speed, man it’s going to be something to see.” Even Alabama’s head coach, Nick Saben, furthered the praise for Najee by saying, “Najee is, I think, an exceptional player. He’s got great size. He’s an excellent receiver. His instinct as a runner. He’s tough. He’s hard to tackle. He kind of gets better as the game goes on.”

We will see how Najee Harris develops throughout the season. Still, it has been almost four years since the Steelers had what many would consider an elite running back (Le’Veon Bell), and if Najee can pan out to be a superstar behind an offensive line that currently does not have three of the five starters from Week One last season on the active roster. I would argue that this pick is going to change to those who criticized the selection of Harris in the first round if he blows up across the NFL during the season.