By all standards the Pittsburgh Steelers received everything they had hoped for from the players they selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. Running back Najee Harris ran for 1200 yards and made the Pro Bowl Tight end Pat Freiermuth developed into a solid player who has potential to develop into an All-Pro, and Dan Moore Jr started all season at left tackle. While the results were pretty rough Kendrick Green also started nearly the entire season before he was sidelined with a leg injury.
Photo / JSKO_PHOTO (Twitter)
Isaiahh Loudermilk, and Tre Norwood saw playing time in nearly every game. Only linebacker Buddy Johnson who was buried down the inside linebacker depth chart, and Quincy Roche who was incorrectly released by the Steelers following training camp didn't contribute. Roche went on to have a solid season as a reserve for the New York Giants.
The Steelers needed to have a solid draft in 2021 and by almost everyone's standards they did. Except one. The analytics company owned by Cris Collinsworth... Pro Football Focus. Last week they made a statement on 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh that Harris was the worst first round selection of 2021. While making the Pro Bowl isn't what it used to be -- they still ranked a Pro Bowl running back that ran for 1200 yards behind a pitiful line as the worst selection.
On Wednesday they doubled down on their theory in a story grading each team's entire 2021 NFL Draft classes.
PITTSBURGH STEELERSR1 (24): RB Najee Harris, Alabama
R2 (55): TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
R3 (87): C Kendrick Green, Illinois
R4 (128): OT Dan Moore Jr., Texas A&M
R4 (140): LB Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M
R5 (156): DI Isaiahh Loudermilk, Wisconsin
R6 (216): EDGE Quincy Roche, Miami (FL)
R7 (245): S Tre Norwood, Oklahoma
R7 (254): P Pressley Harvin III, Georgia Tech
Initial Draft Grade: C
1-year Re-Grade: C
The Steelers' 2021 draft class hasn’t had any major duds as of yet, but it also hasn’t really had any needle-movers. Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth may have tallied impressive yardage totals in 2021, but that’s because they were both high-usage players. Harris averaged only 3.9 yards per carry, while Freiermuth managed 8.2 yards per reception.
Their assessment is pretty vague. But giving players a low grade because they had high usage? Harris was hit in the back field more than any running back in the entire NFL. Do they take that into consideration? What about the fact that Ben Roethlisberger was unable to throw the ball down the middle of the field. Whether it was because of his physical limitations or the fact he couldn't wait more than 2 seconds to throw it because he was under siege. It shouldn't discredit what these two were able to do as rookies.
The Steelers had zero depth entering the 2021 draft. They weren't able to sign many players because of the salary cap dropping. They needed to find players that could step in and play. They did that. Sometimes it's okay to admit you're wrong, and PFF should admit they're wrong instead of trying harder and harder to justify their poor insight.
And don't think that Harris hasn't heard the comments from PFF. He had this to say last week about their rankings.
“Well, everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Harris told The New York Post, laughing. “I hate PFF too.”
You're not alone Najee, you're not alone.
