Now just 10 days out from the 2021 NFL Draft, draft boards are beginning to clear up a bit for teams across the league. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, rumors have begun floating around they are destined to take a top running back in the class within the first two rounds of the draft. For an aging team like that of Pittsburgh, taking a position with the lowest value in the league over bigger needs would be crippling.
Is landing a ball carrier like that of Alabama’s Najee Harris, Clemson’s Travis Etienne, or North Carolina’s Javonte Williams really worth the investment or worth overlooking more pressing needs for?
Why going RB early is a mistake for Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is clearly declining and only going to age from here on out, they just lost two key pieces along their offensive line, a top-flight edge rusher walked out the door, and their secondary (specifically at cornerback) is in shambles. Why would it make sense for the Steelers, who look on the verge of tearing it down and rebuilding with Roethlisberger on the fritz, want to burn top draft assets on the least valuable position in football?
Sure Harris, Etienne, or Williams are all talented ball carriers, but the need at positions like offensive line and cornerback are far more pressing. If the Steelers are looking for an explosive back, they would be better off giving Anthony McFarland the keys with Benny Snell as his change-of-pace rather than taking a top-flight running back.
They then could take a look at one of Ohio State’s Trey Sermon, Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson, or North Carolina’s Michael Carter outside of the first two rounds in order to address their need at running back. There are much bigger, more pressing needs to address, however.
Where Steelers should look instead
Addressing the offensive line a bigger priority
The Steelers have had two of their offensive linemen, who were a staple to their success over the years, walk out the door this offseason. Failing to replace Maurkice Pouncey and/or Alejandro Villanueva with a younger piece along the offensive trenches would be a significant failure for the Steelers.
Names like Texas’ Samuel Cosmi and Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood are two names that stand out as better picks at left tackle in Pittsburgh rather than burning it on a running back. In the second round they still may be in the range to land one of the two FCS standouts in Northern Iowa’s Spencer Brown or North Dakota State’s Dillon Radunz.
At center, Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey should be their prized jewel if he is on the board at pick 24. He is the most athletic center historically, and he has the dominant tape to back it up as well. If they address center in the second round, names like Landon Dickerson or Josh Myers would be far better uses of their resources.
Cornerback cannot be ignored early on
Steven Nelson is out the door and remains unsigned after a disappointing 2020 season in Pittsburgh. Joe Haden is now over the hill, and likely out the door within the next two years as well. Outside of the offensive line, the Steelers must prioritize the cornerback position as well.
With the 24th pick, they may be able to land a player like Northwestern’s Greg Newsome II to their secondary, a player getting top-three love at the position. Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu or Eric Stokes out of Georgia are also well worth the look in that range.
It is a deep crop of cornerbacks as well, and names like Tyson Campbell out of Georgia, Asante Samuel Jr. of Florida State, and Kelvin Joseph of Kentucky all make sense in the second round range for Pittsburgh as well. Anything other than running back in that range.
Let McFarland and Snell carry a one-two punch, or add a later round running back like Sermon, Jefferson, or Carter to the mix. Adding a top running back to the team that looks to be on the verge of a rebuild offers no long-term foundation for the Steelers to stand on.