4 rookies the Steelers are regretting passing in the 2021 NFL Draft

Steelers missed on Humphrey

Drafted 63rd overall

The Steelers had an obvious hole at center this offseason after Maurkice Pouncey retired, and they seemed to have focused in on landing Kendrick Green as their center of the future in the draft. While Green has shown some positive traits, he has struggled with both snapping the ball and gaining leverage after the snap. Due to this focus on Green in the draft, the team missed out on the current highest-rated rookie and highest rated center in the NFL in Creed Humphrey.

While both Harris and Pat Freiermuth have played well so far, neither of them have been as good as Humphrey. Neither filled as big of a hole either. Humphrey should have been the Steelers first-round pick this year. While Harris has looked good, getting an elite center would have been the better value. A player like Mitchell later in the draft behind Humphrey would have been better for the team.

This may honestly be a draft move that the Steelers are kicking themselves over for the next few years. Humphrey has been elite early in his career, and a line that is lacking a top player could have used a dynamic center like Humphrey. There isn’t an area of his game that the rookie struggles with either. He is a complete player and would have been a huge addition to the roster had he been drafted.

While the Steelers’ rookie class has been solid so far, they clearly missed out on these four draft picks. Two of them in particular would have been additions to the offensive line that has been lackluster so far this season. Be thankful for the class that the team got, but always remember that there were some players that were missed out on.