Smartest Selections from Each Round of the 2021 NFL Draft
By Liam Gorman
Round 6, Pick 216 – Quincy Roche, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers add to their pass rush by taking former Temple, turned Miami, star late in the 6th round.
Some late round picks are selected through their athletic upside, others are selected to fill a particular role unique to each team. Quincy Roche fits squarely into the latter category. Roche represents a tremendous value pick who will likely carve out a role in the defense as a situational pass rusher in the years to come.
The Steelers lost long-term starting edge rusher, Bud Dupree, this past offseason to the Titans in free agency. Originally drafted to be a situational pass rusher, 2020 rookie, Alex Highsmith, did an excellent job replacing Dupree as the starter last year when Dupree suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the middle of the season. Now that Highsmith will slot into the Dupree role on a permanent basis, Roche will presumably slot into Highsmith’s original role from last year.
The Steelers have done a tremendous job of developing and finding the right situations for the 3-4 outside linebacker speed-rusher types. Most notably, T.J. Watt, but also Dupree and now Alex Highsmith have all found success in Pittsburgh. Roche could not have landed in a better place.
Roche had a standout junior year at Temple recording 13 sacks and 19 tackles for loss before transferring to Miami and producing even more his senior year. Roche does not have a superstar ceiling as he will always be held back through size, athleticism and strength limitations. Nevertheless, he is a technician, and has a knack for rushing the passer. Roche has a tremendous combination of hand usage and leverage and easily could have gone earlier in the draft if his measurables were better. His 30.5 career sacks in college were not an accident.
Round 7, Pick 249 – Ben Skowronek, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams had a multitude of day 3 picks, but one of the most interesting picks was the selection of Ben Skowronek in the 7th round given his potential fit in the roster.
What is impressive about the Rams selecting the Notre Dame product in the 7th round is less about the upside or immediate impact Skowronek brings, but it is more of a window to how the Rams have the ability to identify players that can fit their culture and scheme.
Apart from being a reliable target for the Irish last year, Skowronek is big-bodied receiver who is a tremendous run blocker for the position. Blocking is an underrated skill for wide receivers in the NFL, but it is especially important for the Rams.
Even Cooper Kupp commented in the past on how important blocking is for receivers on the Rams.
"Rams WR Cooper Kupp on the receivers throwing really good blocks and the reaction it gets when they’re watching it in the film room: “It might be the thing we get most excited about in our (position) room, actually.” — Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) Dec 14, 2020"
If Skowronek makes the roster, he will likely be a backup, but he would be sure to provide special teams value. If he must play in a pinch, he will give the exact skillset the Rams want in their receivers.