FoxTakes : Steelers 2021 Draft Review

All Summaries Come From NFL.COM

RD 1(24) RB Najee Harris - Alabama 6'2" 230lbs

2020: Doak Walker Award, 1st All-SEC, 251c/1,446yds/26TDs, 43rec/425yds/4TDs

Strengths: Runs decisively and with urgency. Able to gather & cut on short notice. Crisp change of direction. Makes a large number of tacklers miss. Plus balance to keep the run on track through 1st contact. Soft hands with above-average ball skills. Willing & able in pass protection. Good ball security.

Weaknesses: Runs with inconsistent feel for tempo. Lacks speed to threaten for the big play. Average burst between tackles. Average acceleration out of his cuts. Takes on heavy contact on a consistent basis.

Comp: Steven Jackson

Grade: 6.46 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

RD 2 (55) TE Pat Freiermuth - Penn State 6'5" 251lbs

2020: 1st All-BIG 10, 23rec/310yds/1TD

Strengths: Coveted combination of size & athletic ability. Quality feet in space for a big man. Displayed ability to keep one-hand touches alive for the catch. Big target for chain-moving throws. Has build-up speed to climb past LBs into the seam. Stacks downhill yards after the catch. Makes impressive athletic recoveries & finishes blocks.

Weaknesses: Can improve his angles as a blocker. Inconsistent footwork to sustain 2nd level blocks. Slowed by physical coverage. Average quickness to separate on lateral route breaks. Inconsistent catch focus to finish in traffic.

Comp: Tyler Eifert

Grade: 6.30 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

RD 3 (87) OG/C Kendrick Green - Illinois 6'2" 305lbs

2020: 1st All-BIG 10

Strengths: Gets off the ball in a hurry, gaining lateral ground with ease. Accelerates through contact, creating wash-down momentum. Short-area quickness allows for tighter schedule on combos. Above-average getting into space on screen blocks. Resets his hands in order to gather pass rusher in front of him. Reactive athleticism to make sudden cut-offs in pass protection.

Weaknesses: Too straight-legged up to 2nd level. Unable to neutralize power when heads up. Defenders are able to separate & play off his blocks. Gets glued to twist action & misses incoming rusher. Overextends, allowing edge to soften.

Comp: Isaac Seumalo

Grade: 6.21 (Good Backup, Could Become a Starter)

RD 4 (128) OT Dan Moore Jr - Texas A&M 6'5 1/2 " 311lbs

2020: 2nd All-SEC

Strengths: Pass pro movements are athletic. Adequate recovery anchor against the bull rush. Quality ability as a cut-blocker. Mindful of footwork & technique on double teams. Runs feet to secure wash-down blocks on outside zone.

Weaknesses: Outside hands are too wide, causing him to gather rather than punch. Needs to pick a target & fully commit when faced with a blitzer. Would like to see more aggression into 1st contact as a run blocker. Inconsistent body control & positioning to consistently secure his block. Below-average demeanor as a block finisher.

Grade: 5.86 (Backup/Special Teamer)

RD 4 (140) LB Buddy Johnson - Texas A&M 6'0 1/2" 229lbs

2020: 86tckls/8.5TFLs, 4scks, 1INT/1TD, 3PUs, 2FFs

Strengths: Good size, definition & aggression. Durable & tough with experience inside & outside. Careful not to overshoot RB's entry point. Does dirty work to help the defense thrive. Physical striker & wrap-up finisher. Attacks the block with an aggressive punch.

Weaknesses: Needs to get deeper downhill to short-circuit pulling guards. Needs to slip blocks occasionally rather than always going to battle. Hip tightness hinders open-field coverage agility. Needs to stay light on his feet as an open-field tackler.

Comp: Kendell Beckwith

Grade: 6.13 (Good Backup, Could Become a Starter)

RD 5 (156) DE Isaiahh Loudermilk - Wisconsin 6'6" 274lbs

2020: Honorable All-BIG 10, 13tckls/2.5TFLs, 2scks

Strengths: Activates sumo hand-fighting for interior pass rush. Efficient footwork & movement on twists. Reads QBs & looks to bat down passes. Potential to extend & separate through his punch. Team-oriented defender willing to do the dirty work, Leg drive pushes & scoops blocker into the backfield.

Weaknesses: Goes along for the ride on lateral block engagements. Unable to sit down firmly & anchor as an edge setter. Lacks foot quickness to work quickly around a block. Below-average hands to open a rush lane for himself. Way too tall on rush counters & is easily punch & stalled.

Grade: 5.55 (Chance to Make End of Roster or Practice Squad)

RD 6 (216) EDGE Quincy Roche - Miami (FL) 6'3" 245lbs

2020: 3rd All-ACC, 45tckls/14.5TFLs, 4.5scks, 2FFs/3FRs

Strengths: Assails the pocket with controlled anger, Subtle hands have the same effectiveness in discarding the punch. Stays low in edge-to-edge counters, improving his success rate. Consistently forced & recovered fumbles. Will work to slide off blocks & find ball-carriers.

Weaknesses: Tight hips, tight ankles. Not very explosive in race to the top of the rush. Unable to really sink & bend the edge. Below-average reactive athleticism. No access to tight turns or sudden change of direction.

Grade: 5.96 (Backup/Special Teamer)

RD 7 (245) CB Tre Norwood - Oklahoma 6' 192lbs

2020: Honorable All-BIG 12, 23tckls, 5INTs/1TD, 7PUs

Strengths: Decent ball skills with soft hands. Can take on a more expanded role as a safety. Good downhill speed to run the alley. Recognition of run-play development & where it is headed. Offers kick & punt coverage experience.

Weaknesses: Hiccup in his transitions from the press. Once he gets behind, he stays behind. Below-average pattern reader. Lacks functional agility to recover through coverage missteps. Grab-and-drag tackler.

Grade: 5.60 (Chance to Make End of Roster or Practice Squad)