Tweet
This guy is usually eerily close. This wouldn't be a bad haul, I just don't Harris will be there.
1. (No. 24 overall) RB Najee Harris, Alabama (6-1, 232) — Harris could have entered the draft after his junior season, but he returned and improved his draft stock. He rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and scored 46 touchdowns during his four-year college career, including 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns in a standout senior campaign that ended with a national championship. What makes him a coveted player in the draft is his ability to be a receiver out of the backfield and pass protect. Harris caught 70 passes for 729 yards the past two seasons. He never has to come off the field and can be the next “bell cow” Mike Tomlin always wants in his feature back.
2. (No. 55 overall) C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma (6-4, 302) — It’s not a matter of if, but rather when the Steelers select a center in this draft. The only centers on the roster right now are B.J. Finney and J.C. Hassenauer, who have a combined 17 NFL starts between them. It’s an obvious need for the Steelers following the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey. Humphrey is viewed as a safe pick and might be able to handle the starting duties right away. He’s a former wrestler and a good athlete for his size. Adding a center early in the draft makes sense for a franchise that believes in building the lines from the inside out.
3. (No. 87 overall) OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa (6-8, 311) — The Steelers have three tackles on their roster with NFL experience, but they need to add a player in this draft who can develop into a long-term starter. Brown could turn out to be a future left tackle. He’s big and athletic, two things that are always coveted when protecting the left side. He didn’t play against elite competition in college, but the Steelers attended his pro day and appear intrigued by his tools. He wouldn’t have to play right away, but with some seasoning he could develop into a starter.
4. (No. 12
CB Ambry Thomas, Michigan (6-0, 191) — What the Steelers need most in the secondary is a versatile player that can take over the role Cam Sutton performed so well the past few years. Thomas has the versatility to play inside or outside, and he has the credentials to play well in run support. He opted out of the 2020 season, but the Steelers had a large contingent at the Wolverines’ pro day. I expect the Steelers to lean toward college prospects that played in the fall, but they could make an exception or two when talent warrants.
4a. (No. 140) WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn (6-0, 186) — This might be a little early for a position the Steelers don’t necessarily need to draft, but there is going to be value in the middle rounds with receivers. And the Steelers always like to add talent to their passing game. Schwartz, who ran a 4.26 40-yard dash at Auburn’s pro day, might be able to contribute early as a gadget player in Matt Canada’s offense. Plus, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s and James Washington’s contracts expire after the 2021 season. Developing a potential replacement this year isn’t a bad idea given the depth of this receiver class.
6. (No. 216) OLB Janarius Robinson, Florida State (6-5, 263) — The Steelers certainly could take an outside linebacker earlier than the sixth round, but Robinson is a developmental prospect that can learn behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The only experienced backup outside linebacker on the roster is Cassius Marsh, who joined the Steelers in the middle of the 2020 season. Robinson can learn behind the veterans and provide depth at one of the most important positions on the Steelers defense.
7. (No. 245) P Max Duffy, Kentucky (6-1, 196) — Jordan Berry performed well after he was brought back five games into last season, but the Steelers would like a more consistent punter. Duffy is 28 years old and played Australian Rules Football before matriculating to Kentucky, where he blossomed into one of the top punting prospects in this draft.
7a. (No. 254) ILB Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State (6-1, 250) — Big run-stopper who might add some special teams value late in the draft. As much as Colbert says the game has changed — and it has — there remains a need for run-stoppers, especially with the Ravens and Browns in the same division. The Steelers could give Thompson a chance to learn under Vince Williams for a year and hope he can become the next run-defense specialist in the middle of the defense.
Read more: Ray Fittipaldo's final seven-round Steelers mock draft | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/04/28/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-mock-draft-najee-harris-creed-humphrey/stories/202104280020)
1. (No. 24 overall) RB Najee Harris, Alabama (6-1, 232) — Harris could have entered the draft after his junior season, but he returned and improved his draft stock. He rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and scored 46 touchdowns during his four-year college career, including 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns in a standout senior campaign that ended with a national championship. What makes him a coveted player in the draft is his ability to be a receiver out of the backfield and pass protect. Harris caught 70 passes for 729 yards the past two seasons. He never has to come off the field and can be the next “bell cow” Mike Tomlin always wants in his feature back.
2. (No. 55 overall) C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma (6-4, 302) — It’s not a matter of if, but rather when the Steelers select a center in this draft. The only centers on the roster right now are B.J. Finney and J.C. Hassenauer, who have a combined 17 NFL starts between them. It’s an obvious need for the Steelers following the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey. Humphrey is viewed as a safe pick and might be able to handle the starting duties right away. He’s a former wrestler and a good athlete for his size. Adding a center early in the draft makes sense for a franchise that believes in building the lines from the inside out.
3. (No. 87 overall) OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa (6-8, 311) — The Steelers have three tackles on their roster with NFL experience, but they need to add a player in this draft who can develop into a long-term starter. Brown could turn out to be a future left tackle. He’s big and athletic, two things that are always coveted when protecting the left side. He didn’t play against elite competition in college, but the Steelers attended his pro day and appear intrigued by his tools. He wouldn’t have to play right away, but with some seasoning he could develop into a starter.
4. (No. 12
CB Ambry Thomas, Michigan (6-0, 191) — What the Steelers need most in the secondary is a versatile player that can take over the role Cam Sutton performed so well the past few years. Thomas has the versatility to play inside or outside, and he has the credentials to play well in run support. He opted out of the 2020 season, but the Steelers had a large contingent at the Wolverines’ pro day. I expect the Steelers to lean toward college prospects that played in the fall, but they could make an exception or two when talent warrants.4a. (No. 140) WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn (6-0, 186) — This might be a little early for a position the Steelers don’t necessarily need to draft, but there is going to be value in the middle rounds with receivers. And the Steelers always like to add talent to their passing game. Schwartz, who ran a 4.26 40-yard dash at Auburn’s pro day, might be able to contribute early as a gadget player in Matt Canada’s offense. Plus, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s and James Washington’s contracts expire after the 2021 season. Developing a potential replacement this year isn’t a bad idea given the depth of this receiver class.
6. (No. 216) OLB Janarius Robinson, Florida State (6-5, 263) — The Steelers certainly could take an outside linebacker earlier than the sixth round, but Robinson is a developmental prospect that can learn behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. The only experienced backup outside linebacker on the roster is Cassius Marsh, who joined the Steelers in the middle of the 2020 season. Robinson can learn behind the veterans and provide depth at one of the most important positions on the Steelers defense.
7. (No. 245) P Max Duffy, Kentucky (6-1, 196) — Jordan Berry performed well after he was brought back five games into last season, but the Steelers would like a more consistent punter. Duffy is 28 years old and played Australian Rules Football before matriculating to Kentucky, where he blossomed into one of the top punting prospects in this draft.
7a. (No. 254) ILB Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State (6-1, 250) — Big run-stopper who might add some special teams value late in the draft. As much as Colbert says the game has changed — and it has — there remains a need for run-stoppers, especially with the Ravens and Browns in the same division. The Steelers could give Thompson a chance to learn under Vince Williams for a year and hope he can become the next run-defense specialist in the middle of the defense.
Read more: Ray Fittipaldo's final seven-round Steelers mock draft | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/04/28/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-mock-draft-najee-harris-creed-humphrey/stories/202104280020)
Comment