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

[NorthCoast]

Steelers don't need a special RB in Rd 1....and a strong OL improves both the run and passing games.

• GB grabbed A. Jones in the 5th rd - 1,100+ yds rushing
• James Robinson; undrafted - a 1000+ yd rusher for the Jags and add another 300+ receiving
• David Montgomery - 3rd rd by the Bears - 1000+ yds rusher (and throw in another 400+ receiving)
• Kenyan Drake - 3rd rd by MIA - 900+ yds for Zona
• A Kamara - 3rd rd by NOR - 900+ yds rushing, 750+ receiving

Tell me otherwise.

[feltdizz]

Steelers don't need a special RB in Rd 1....and a strong OL improves both the run and passing games.

• GB grabbed A. Jones in the 5th rd - 1,100+ yds rushing
• James Robinson; undrafted - a 1000+ yd rusher for the Jags and add another 300+ receiving
• David Montgomery - 3rd rd by the Bears - 1000+ yds rusher (and throw in another 400+ receiving)
• Kenyan Drake - 3rd rd by MIA - 900+ yds for Zona
• A Kamara - 3rd rd by NOR - 900+ yds rushing, 750+ receiving

Tell me otherwise.

I’m sure we could do that with OL as well. No way all these teams with these RB’s are drafting all their OL early.

While its possible to find a needle like Kamara or Jones.. it’s not a given. For every Kamara you have another 12 RB’s taken in the 3rd who didn’t have the juice.

That’s part of the problem with the draft. Not saying we cant get lucky and find a guy like Kamara but these examples aren’t the norm.

We could wait and get another Conner, Dwyer, Redman or maybe we get a Barry Foster. Who knows.. but I do know the earlier you draft talent the higher the chances are for success.

I would definitely take Sermon if he dropped to the 3rd round and think he would work out well for us. But the longer you wait.. the less likely it is to find that next star.

[Steel Maniac]

Steelers don't need a special RB in Rd 1....and a strong OL improves both the run and passing games.

• GB grabbed A. Jones in the 5th rd - 1,100+ yds rushing
• James Robinson; undrafted - a 1000+ yd rusher for the Jags and add another 300+ receiving
• David Montgomery - 3rd rd by the Bears - 1000+ yds rusher (and throw in another 400+ receiving)
• Kenyan Drake - 3rd rd by MIA - 900+ yds for Zona
• A Kamara - 3rd rd by NOR - 900+ yds rushing, 750+ receiving

Tell me otherwise.

Excellent examples on why we can hold off on taking a RB in the first round. Be lucky if any RB is taken in the first round.

[NJ-STEELER]

Steelers don't need a special RB in Rd 1....and a strong OL improves both the run and passing games.

• GB grabbed A. Jones in the 5th rd - 1,100+ yds rushing
• James Robinson; undrafted - a 1000+ yd rusher for the Jags and add another 300+ receiving
• David Montgomery - 3rd rd by the Bears - 1000+ yds rusher (and throw in another 400+ receiving)
• Kenyan Drake - 3rd rd by MIA - 900+ yds for Zona
• A Kamara - 3rd rd by NOR - 900+ yds rushing, 750+ receiving

Tell me otherwise.

there's a ton more Ol drafted after the 1st round that perform well. even within our own team.

now take a look at the recent track record of RBs this team has taken after the 2nd round

where have they drafted better?

mcfarland 124
snell 122 overall pick
samuels 165
connor 105
dri archer 97
chris rainly 159
baron batch 232
jon dwyer 188

OL
AV- UDFA
Banner - UDFa
ramon -UDFA
Beachum 248
okorafor 92

[NorthCoast]

there's a ton more Ol drafted after the 1st round that perform well. even within our own team.

now take a look at the recent track record of RBs this team has taken after the 2nd round

where have they drafted better?

I thought that was the great Munchak coaching them up? He's not here now.

[NJ-STEELER]

I thought that was the great Munchak coaching them up? He's not here now.

well, I would follow up a 1st round Rb with a 2nd and 3rd round OL. not exactly UFDA level talent where we were successful in getting them to be productive players

[feltdizz]

How many championships did that second rounder get us?

Who was the last one to start a SB victory?
5th rounder.

Let me ask you this-
How would "fast Willie" look like behind THIS line?

here comes Cap with the his dusty ass Fast Willie SB line.

Lets look at FWP in the 2005 playoffs

Cincy game: 16 for 38 yards
Colts game: 17 for 59 yards
Denver game: 14 for 35 yards.

SB: now he had an amazing TD run for 75 yards. But with the other 9 attempts he only had 18 yards.

The man was fast, straight line fast. Amazing speed. But if things weren’t set up perfect for FWP he was TRASH!!! No vision, no wiggle.. and hands like Ike.

So for the last time, shut the hell up about FWP. The guy was fast as hell and I appreciate his contributions but don’t you ever, EVER, NEVER, EVER try to use FWP as justification for not drafting a RB early.

drops mic

[feltdizz]

well, I would follow up a 1st round Rb with a 2nd and 3rd round OL. not exactly UFDA level talent where we were successful in getting them to be productive players

Thank you...

Now if there is an OL who dropped in our lap like DD due to teams going QB and WR early them sure.. get him but if Harris is available and the OL on the board are 2nd and 3rd round talents it would be foolish to reach just to say you drafted OL in the first round.

We are drafting late in the first, not top 10.

[Captain Lemming]

here comes Cap with the his dusty ass Fast Willie SB line.

Lets look at FWP in the 2005 playoffs

Cincy game: 16 for 38 yards
Colts game: 17 for 59 yards
Denver game: 14 for 35 yards.

SB: now he had an amazing TD run for 75 yards. But with the other 9 attempts he only had 18 yards.

The man was fast, straight line fast. Amazing speed. But if things weren’t set up perfect for FWP he was TRASH!!! No vision, no wiggle.. and hands like Ike.

So for the last time, shut the hell up about FWP. The guy was fast as hell and I appreciate his contributions but don’t you ever, EVER, NEVER, EVER try to use FWP as justification for not drafting a RB early.

drops mic

Mic drop... I don't think so.

Again you miss the point. I ain't calling him "great". He was "good", good enough. As are 90 percent of SB winning backs in today's game.

You make my point. Fast Willie was "enough" for us to beat THE BEST BACK IN THE LEAGUE that season.

Feel free to dis him... you make my point. For all we know if you had a Faneca, and Hartings, McFarland might look like Willie.

[Captain Lemming]

Thank you...

Now if there is an OL who dropped in our lap like DD due to teams going QB and WR early them sure.. get him but if Harris is available and the OL on the board are 2nd and 3rd round talents it would be foolish to reach just to say you drafted OL in the first round.

We are drafting late in the first, not top 10.

I don't even disagree Dizz.
But we can use a center, Tackle, AND a guard. Odds that there is no first round value among those THREE positions are pretty much zero.

[pfelix73]

I don't even disagree Dizz.
But we can use a center, Tackle, AND a guard. Odds that there is no first round value among those THREE positions are pretty much zero.

Depends on who comes back. Re-sign Feiler, and we don't need a guard. Our perspectives are a bit different. I don't think all of our problems are in the players that we have.

Way back when Fournette was released, I wanted the Steelers to sign him. He's been a beast here in the playoffs for the Bucs. Conner isn't our answer. He goes down as soon as he is hit.

[Captain Lemming]

Depends on who comes back. Re-sign Feiler, and we don't need a guard. Our perspectives are a bit different. I don't think all of our problems are in the players that we have.

Way back when Fournette was released, I wanted the Steelers to sign him. He's been a beast here in the playoffs for the Bucs. Conner isn't our answer. He goes down as soon as he is hit.

I wanted Fournette too. Again THAT is my point. It is EASY to get a good cheap free agent back who can replace Conner. Why use a number one pick?

Feiler as a guard? Dude he was worthless trash as an interior lineman.

[feltdizz]

Mic drop... I don't think so.

Again you miss the point. I ain't calling him "great". He was "good", good enough. As are 90 percent of SB winning backs in today's game.

You make my point. Fast Willie was "enough" for us to beat THE BEST BACK IN THE LEAGUE that season.

Feel free to dis him... you make my point. For all we know if you had a Faneca, and Hartings, McFarland might look like Willie.

FWP wasn’t enough to beat the best back in the league that year.

We had Bettis and Duce on our roster and FWP was insurance. We need a legit RB and an FWP type guy on our roster as insurance. I think McFarland can be our FWP but we damn sure don’t have a Bettis as a finisher/punisher right now. Snell
and Conner aren’t anywhere near Bettis so don’t even think about saying it.. lol.

but I would take a former first rounder like Williams or Bettis in a heartbeat if available in FA. Thing is, a pick at 24 might still be cheaper than a RB in FA who was a first round pedigree.

CEH was drafted in the first but at 32 for KC. He makes 1.9 this year, Fournette makes 2 mill on a one year deal. just remember, Fournette has Brady under center and... BA of all people as a HC, lol.

but this revisionists history of what we had when we won a SB is fools gold. That was 15 years ago. Stop living in the past dude.

[feltdizz]

I wanted Fournette too. Again THAT is my point. It is EASY to get a good cheap free agent back who can replace Conner. Why use a number one pick?

Feiler as a guard? Dude he was worthless trash as an interior lineman.

A pick at 24 isn’t a premium first round pick. Look at KC’s OL. I believe they have 1 first round pick on their OL who was the number 1 pick in 2013 and the rest are UDFA’s or other people’s property they acquired in FA but none drafted in the first.

[NorthCoast]

Depends on who comes back. Re-sign Feiler, and we don't need a guard. Our perspectives are a bit different. I don't think all of our problems are in the players that we have.

Way back when Fournette was released, I wanted the Steelers to sign him. He's been a beast here in the playoffs for the Bucs. Conner isn't our answer. He goes down as soon as he is hit.

Conner's other problem, and it's been written about a few times, is his poor vision finding creases at the line. His running has changed from just a year or two ago. Much more hesitant and little burst. Really, his biggest asset was as a blocker in the pass game. But I'd still keep him as a cheap #2. No way I give him a starter's contract.