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

[hawaiiansteel]

It may be pure speculation, a projection and a bit of a stretch but I would suggest he already HAS the same kind of back on the roster.

Buckeyes fans, please close your eyes:

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I wonder who Canada wants if they choose a RB in the first round. I would take Harris but some think he may rather draft Etienne to fit his style of offense. That would be a bummer in my mind.

I think that Etienne is similar to McFarland and I think that the Steelers knowingly passed on guys like Dobbins because they knew that they liked McF and could get him later.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

IMO, outside of punter and kicker, RB is the easiest position to coach. He either has " it " or doesn't sooner than the other positions where guys need to learn and develop. So the impact of drafting a good back is felt early. Look at the rookie success at this position.

The one thing with the Steelers is that no RB is getting extended playing time if they cannot pass protect. I believe that is another thing that Harris is known to do well. Of course, with all this talk of whether the Steelers go RB (Harris or Etienne) in the first and then OT, OC the next two or OT, OC in the first two rounds, we should expect the first round pick to be.....

Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (how do you say no to a LB from the notorious LB factory of Tulsa?

https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/zaven-collins

[Northern_Blitz]

Here's what I think. Conner is a tier 3 starter, more of a great story than anything else these days. Any RB we grab in round one or two will be noticeably better. If you want run the ball better, it's kind of hard with him. Defensive coaches and some players know darn well Conner can not run outside, so they pinch him inside. They also know he like to run to the right, and does not have much speed. This brings the defense up making it harder for the short passing game to work.

Harris is much faster, can run inside or out, blocks like a beast, is harder to bring down, and better at making his man miss. A good pass catcher too. A read zone weapon. As such he's much harder to defend. Plus he's not injury prone or fumble prone as Conner has been in the past. Fans should like Harris.

IMO, outside of punter and kicker, RB is the easiest position to coach. He either has " it " or doesn't sooner than the other positions where guys need to learn and develop. So the impact of drafting a good back is felt early. Look at the rookie success at this position.

Sure we need a new Center, Right Tackle and Tight End who can actually block, That's four round 2,3 and 4.

New mock draft with Ben being back.

1. RB Harris
2. LT Dillon Radunz
3. C Quinn Meinerz
4. TE Tommy Tremble
4B. WR/Slot A. Rodgers
6. P Max Duffy
6B. DT Jonathan Marshall
7. S Damar Hamlin
7B. CB Ambry Thomas.

Conner isn't under contract for next season. And it's unlikely he'll come back I think.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Conner isn't under contract for next season. And it's unlikely he'll come back I think.

The Steelers have already said that they are not bringing him back.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I think that Etienne is similar to McFarland and I think that the Steelers knowingly passed on guys like Dobbins because they knew that they liked McF and could get him later.

McFarland was a disappointment. He took too long to hit the hole, did not do a good job following his blockers and could be knocked down by a feather. The guy showed little as a rookie.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

The Steelers have already said that they are not bringing him back.

He's a free agent, good luck.

[Captain Lemming]

McFarland was a disappointment. He took too long to hit the hole, did not do a good job following his blockers and could be knocked down by a feather. The guy showed little as a rookie.

Hole? What hole?

[Northern_Blitz]

Hole? What hole?

Sadly, this is the way I feel too.

[steeler_george]

I think that Etienne is similar to McFarland and I think that the Steelers knowingly passed on guys like Dobbins because they knew that they liked McF and could get him later.

I am so "IFFY" on Etienne, I rather pass on him and take Gainwell, Felton, or Carter later in the draft if we are looking for a WEAPON. If they want a "pure" RB they should go with Williams, Harris, or Sermon.

I think they liked McFarland enough to draft him, and that is it. They got screwed, they had their eyes on Highsmith, and a run on running backs left them with McFarland.
I bet you they had eyes on Moss, Gibson, Perine, Kelly.

[steeler_george]

The one thing with the Steelers is that no RB is getting extended playing time if they cannot pass protect. I believe that is another thing that Harris is known to do well. Of course, with all this talk of whether the Steelers go RB (Harris or Etienne) in the first and then OT, OC the next two or OT, OC in the first two rounds, we should expect the first round pick to be.....

Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (how do you say no to a LB from the notorious LB factory of Tulsa?

https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/zaven-collins

I am Mr Flip flop when it comes to players and the draft...

He is one name I liked at one point, till I read that he was not well liked by teammates. RED FLAG

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I am Mr Flip flop when it comes to players and the draft...

He is one name I liked at one point, till I read that he was not well liked by teammates. RED FLAG

I didn't know that, worth investigating if you are the Steelers. You can be sure that if any character red flags are there then he is not on their board. I'd wonder if any of those concerns are why a stud backer ended up at Tulsa in the first place.

[hawaiiansteel]

Najee Harris Is a Can't-Miss Superstar for Steelers at Pick 24

The Pittsburgh Steelers need a running back, and if Najee Harris is available with the 24th pick, he's a must-draft player.

CODY FLAVELLFEB 25, 2021

The Pittsburgh Steelers are at a crossroads offensively. They’ve got an aging offensive line, an aging quarterback, are losing a prime wide receiver to free agency, and are thin at tight end. That’s not to mention that their starting running back is moving on via free agency as well. If the Steelers go offense in round one of the NFL Draft, it would be hard to argue against any position being drafted.

The prudent pick would likely be to draft an offensive lineman. Maurkice Pouncey just retired. Alejandro Villanueva will leave in free agency after an ugly year as the starter at that position. Kevin Dotson likely has a spot etched in stone heading forward and Zach Banner likely will replace Villanueva. Outside of that, things don’t look all that promising on that front.

That’s exactly why the Steelers should go against the grain and take Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round of the draft in April.

It is certainly true that a good running game starts with the offensive line. After ranking dead last in rushing offense last season, the Steelers overhaul needs to start there. After watching Harris at Alabama last season, it is clear that he can be a force behind an NFL-worthy offensive line. Alabama’s line is as close to NFL-caliber as it gets as they consistently put linemen in the pros. However, just based off of physical traits, it looks like Harris is going to be a star in the NFL, given the right situation.

Harris is a bruising running back and will surely translate to the NFL with ease. He doesn’t possess burner speed but he can break away in the open field. His talent is undeniable.

Even with Ben Roethlisberger coming back for the Steelers in 2021, his throwing abilities aren’t quite what they once were. Just a remote semblance of a rushing attack last season likely would’ve made the Steelers an infinitely better team. There’s a good chance the end-of-season collapse could’ve been avoided. Giving Roethlisberger a potential elite running back prospect could change teams’ thinking on how to attack the Steelers.

James Conner will be looking for a new home next season. His story was great. His durability and overall production didn’t quite justify the Steelers giving him a contract. I’m also a firm believer that paying running backs big money is not a prudent tactic when constructing a winning team. So adding a talent like Harris on a cheaper rookie deal is a solid way to alleviate salary cap issues going forward.

Many people have claimed that the Steelers should load up on linemen early in the draft and then take a running back in the mid-rounds. Over the past few seasons, the Steelers have selected Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland in the mid-rounds. Neither Snell or McFarland have done much to inspire confidence as top-end running backs in the future. Obviously, things can change as time goes on and more opportunity presents itself for them.

This looks like one of the deeper offensive line classes in a long time, especially on the exterior of the offensive line. Grabbing a running back like Harris in the first round and then grabbing some potential starting linemen in the mid and later rounds sets up an overhaul of the offensive line that is clearly needed.

Recently, my colleague Donnie Druin put together a piece saying that Harris isn’t the home run pick in the first round. While he believes he’d be a good pick, he underlines why drafting Harris would be neglecting the true needs of the offense.

With a lack of depth at running back, Harris is a need without a doubt. Donnie stated that in the article. Even behind a truly elite offensive line, would you be confident with a guy like McFarland or Snell running behind it? To this point, I am uninspired by those players.

There is certainly a case to be made that the Steelers should go offensive line early and then take someone like Trey Sermon of Ohio State, Rhamondre Stevenson of Oklahoma, or Michael Carter of North Carolina, amongst others. Harris is a better running back than all of them and behind a good offensive line could be the difference-maker the Pittsburgh Steelers need.

One more year of Roethlisberger with a running game to actually fall back on? I’d sign up for that every day. After Roethlisberger retires, you’ll then have Harris, a good offensive line and hopefully a few more legitimate offensive weapons that can help a young, fresh-faced quarterback come 2022 and beyond.

https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/gm-report/najee-harris-pittsburgh-steelers-pick-24

[hawaiiansteel]

RB Najee Harris, Alabama. (Senior). 6’1⅞”, 230 lbs. with long 33⅜” arms and big 10” hands. Turns 23 just before the draft. Solid, solid, solid, with an extremely high floor and a very high ceiling. A big, strong RB who Daniel Jeremiah has compared to Matt Forte, Harris can be trusted to get every inch of what’s available, a lot that wouldn’t be there for lesser backs, and to get stronger as the game goes on. As Alex Kozora’s gif-supported January scouting report sums it up, “Harris has every trait you look for in a back. Not just at a baseline ‘good enough’ level. He’s good to great in almost every area.” Pick your asset (other than home run 40-time speed) and he’s got it. Vision, size, strength, super quick feet, a brutal jump cut, an even nastier spin move, a nose for both the sticks and the end zone, etc., etc., unto the end. He will (A) reliably hit the best available hole, (B) run you over if you stand and wait, (C) disappear if you go in hot, and (D) vanish from your grasp if you fail to get a perfect grip. Deadly. He’s also a tremendous receiver, and already an accomplished pocket protector. Pro ready – two words I almost never say. The hardest part is distinguishing which heights he achieved on his own, versus climbing so high on the shoulders of his friends. The BCS championship game may have helped for that one. Ohio State cornered him several times, and then could not bring him down because of what he did all by himself. The Steelers reportedly met with him at the Senior Bowl.

https://steelersdepot.com/2021/03/2021-nfl-draft-steelers-big-board-top-50-players/

[Steel Maniac]

ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports the Steelers are "unlikely" to re-sign James Conner.

With the team (probably) letting Pittsburgh favorite Conner walk about four seasons, Pryor said the team could fill their RB1 spot with an early-round pick in this spring's NFL Draft. Conner, who will be 26 in May, should have multiple suitors this offseason. Probably he won't be anyone's idea of a locked-in No. 1 running back though. Taking a back in the first round would be a departure from how the team usually conducts its drafts. The Steelers have used their past seven first-round picks on defensive players, including five linebackers.

SOURCE: ESPN.com
Mar 2, 2021, 11:44 AM ET