Todd McShay 2021 Mock Draft: Steelers Select Alabama RB Najee Harris

[Steel Maniac]

Why do people keep saying this? Thats been our problem. We've been waiting until after the 2nd round. You get a great back if he is available that late in the 1st and mid 2nd round. Good Olineman can be gotten in the 3rd and 4th rounds. If one of those RBs are there this year the Steelers better jump on them. Look around the league RBs are no longer devalued.

Ask the Rams how they feel about that contract they gave Gurly? Ask the cowboys how they feel about that contract they gave fat Zeke? How’ed that work out for Lebron Bell in New York?

There’s a reason why Green Bay drafted Dillion last year; so they don’t have to give big doe to Aaron Jones.

The only long term contract to a running back that may work out is Kamara but that remains to be seen because he doesn’t take the pounding because most of his touches are passes out the backfield.

[hawaiiansteel]

No need to take a RB in the first round am you more.

I'll bet you the Colts don't regret taking Jonathan Taylor early in the second.

[Disco1981]

He will probably be gone when we pick.

Hardly...........

[Disco1981]

Good player no doubt. Round 1 I'm thinking no.
Dickerson the Bama center ,the guy who through the kick out block, on the Harris high hurdle run I could see us taking early but Harris to me would look good in round 2. Dobbins just went in round 2 a year back so it's possible n great value in the 2nd.
It's so early but Harris is a real nice talent with good size n enough speed.

Would look good in round 2, But some are saying he'll be gone in round 1...Which one is it?

[Captain Lemming]

Why do people keep saying this?

Because you average like 1 or 2 in the first round every year. What does that tell you? Last season...ONE RB the LAST GUY drafted in the first 32nd.

SIX 1st round receivers? Six 1st round corners? THOSE are high valued positions. ALL TWELVE picked before a single runningback.

Numbers dont lie.

That wasnt the case in the 70s, 80s.

Heck Dallas stole THREE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS of FIRST AND SECOND round picks from the Vikings for ONE runningback.

Oh that position is DEFINATELY devalued. It was on a par with QUARTERBACKS

Steelers?

Last 4 backs drafted in the 1st round?
Greg Hawthorne
Walter Abercrombie
Tim Worley
Rashard Mendenhall

A grand total of TWO thousand yard season from 1st round Steeler backs.

Compare that to first round interior linemen drafted in the first?

Our last 4 first round interior linemen?
Faneca
Kendall Simmons
Pouncey
DeCastro

You wonder why we rarely draft first round backs?

[Disco1981]

Because you average like 1 or 2 in the first round every year. What does that tell you? Last season...ONE RB the LAST GUY drafted in the first 32nd.

SIX 1st round receivers? Six 1st round corners? THOSE are high valued positions. ALL TWELVE picked before a single runningback.

Numbers dont lie.

That wasnt the case in the 70s, 80s.

Heck Dallas stole THREE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS of FIRST AND SECOND round picks from the Vikings for ONE runningback.

Oh that position is DEFINATELY devalued. It was on a par with QUARTERBACKS

Steelers?

Last 4 backs drafted in the 1st round?
Greg Hawthorne
Walter Abercrombie
Tim Worley
Rashard Mendenhall

A grand total of TWO thousand yard season from 1st round Steeler backs.

Compare that to first round interior linemen drafted in the first?

Our last 4 first round interior linemen?
Faneca
Kendall Simmons
Pouncey
DeCastro

You wonder why we rarely draft first round backs?

Yet, Some on here says he'll be gone when we pick in the FIRST round? Lol

[SteelerMaine83]

As I said, I like Harris, but I wouldn’t take him or any RB in the 1st round. It’s because of exactly what has been posted on here and the names thrown around. There are plenty of 2nd round backs that can make the argument of best back in the league right now, and many 1st rounders (the few there are) are looking pretty overpaid versus their value to the team. So I repeat, I wouldn’t take a back with a 1st round pick, but I would take one in the second or any other time thereafter.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

big uglies Rd 1, 3a, 4... get your RB Rd 3b.

i'd go 1 and 3 with big uglies as well and RB could be grabbed later...
also wouldn't mind an ILB somewhere along the way, unless we're good with Bush and Spillane being starters... feeling like we can't afford Avery and VW may also be gone...

[feltdizz]

Because you average like 1 or 2 in the first round every year. What does that tell you? Last season...ONE RB the LAST GUY drafted in the first 32nd.

SIX 1st round receivers? Six 1st round corners? THOSE are high valued positions. ALL TWELVE picked before a single runningback.

Numbers dont lie.

That wasnt the case in the 70s, 80s.

Heck Dallas stole THREE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS of FIRST AND SECOND round picks from the Vikings for ONE runningback.

Oh that position is DEFINATELY devalued. It was on a par with QUARTERBACKS

Steelers?

Last 4 backs drafted in the 1st round?
Greg Hawthorne
Walter Abercrombie
Tim Worley
Rashard Mendenhall

A grand total of TWO thousand yard season from 1st round Steeler backs.

Compare that to first round interior linemen drafted in the first?

Our last 4 first round interior linemen?
Faneca
Kendall Simmons
Pouncey
DeCastro

You wonder why we rarely draft first round backs?

This example is pretty goofy. The reason we don’t draft RB’s as often in the first round or early is the same reason we don’t draft QB’s or TE’s that often in the first round.

We have 1 RB and 1TE on the field for like 70% of the snaps.

We usually have 5OL and go 3WR on those same plays.

Same with the defense. We draft a ton of OLB’s and thankfully, we changed our strategy when it comes to CB’s in the draft. Cause we stink at it when we draft early but we draft more of them for obvious reasons. Its just a numbers game..

BUT, you get what you draft and except for a few outliers and 1 year wonders we always had a much more dynamic and productive offense when we had a high draft pick at RB.

and our FO showed us that we didn’t devalue the RB position when we tried to resign Bell twice and tagged him twice.

but yes, its a numbers game, we will typically draft a position that needs more bodies more often than not because its the smart thing to do.

[steeler_george]

Look at draft position we draft according to him 1.28 and 2.60

We might miss out on a top tier difference maker at RB if we wait to our pick in the 2nd. Last year was a good RB class, this year not as talented compared to 2020.

Just look at last year, 1.32 CEH, 2.35 Swift, 2.41 Taylor, 2.52 Akers , and Dobbins went end of 2nd at 55.

OT last year, 6th OT was 1.29 Wilson, 2.58 Cleveland, 3.71 Madubuke, 3.72 Josh Jones. And this year is suppose to be a good OL draft.

With that said, I wouldn't be against taking a top RB with our first pick. ( good year to trade back?)