Steelers Could Be Looking Back On A Recent Draft Class With Ultimate Regret

The Pittsburgh Steelers have recently been praised for their ability to find talent through the NFL Draft. The organization's draft class from 2023 has shown it could have some serious star power with Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton, while Broderick Jones, Nick Herbig, and Darnell Washington are also good contributors that can be expected to take a leap in 2024. Pittsburgh has already been lauded for their 2024 draft class, despite none of them playing a professional game yet. 

General Manager Omar Khan is partially responsible for the two straight impeccable draft classes, as he took over once Kevin Colbert retired following the 2022 NFL Draft. Khan also hired Andy Weidl as his assistant GM, who is known for his great drafting ability from his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. This was great for Pittsburgh, as the Steelers struggled during the draft over the last few years of the Colbert-era. Looking back on the 2021 NFL Draft today, Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gave the organization a C- for their nine selections.

"They had nine picks in this draft, and three would be starters if the season started today. They are running back Najee Harris, tight end Pat Freiermuth, and offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. Harris hasn't come close to living up to the first-round hype, with a career per-rush average of 3.9, which makes this a questionable draft. Freiermuth is a good player, but Moore is a guy they would like to replace and could be out of a job this year after the Steelers took tackle Troy Fautanu in the first round this year. Fifth-round defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk is a backup. They missed on third-round center-guard Kendrick Green, who is now with the [Houston] Texans."

Outside of Pittsburgh's top two selections in 2021, they really struggled finding talent that year. Najee Harris has been one of the most productive backs in the league since becoming a professional. He doesn't have the exciting highlight plays, like other first-round running backs that we have seen recently, but he has done the best he could up to this point, while playing behind a lackluster offensive line for his entire career. Harris recently had his fifth-year option declined by the organization, but it was not because they are dissatisfied with Harris, they likely want to sign him to a new multi-year deal instead.

Pat Freiermuth was the team's second-round pick, and he has turned into a really good player, as long as he is being used in the offense. Former offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, often seemed to struggle to scheme plays up to get Freiermuth involved on the offensive side of the ball. Freiermuth is expected to produce more under Arthur Smith. 

The rest of the Steelers draft picks from 2021 are widely viewed as atrocious. The organization picked Kendrick Green in the third round to play center, yet he was playing fullback during training camp in 2023 and was later traded to the Houston Texans. The Steelers then picked Dan Moore Jr. and Buddy Johnson in the fourth round. Moore Jr. has been a starter for Pittsburgh for the past three seasons, who has struggled at left tackle. He could be a productive backup, but his consistency as an efficient starter is questionable. Johnson was unfortunately waived after one season.

Steelers Couldn't Find A Single Player To Produce In The Back Half Of The 2021 Draft

The last four draft picks the Steelers had in 2021 wound up being Isaiahh Loudermilk, Quincy Roche, Tre Norwood, and Pressley Harvin III. Roche was waived in 2021 as a rookie, Norwood was waived ahead of the 2023 season, and Harvin III really struggled to start his career, as he was released after the 2023 season. Loudermilk is still on the roster, but should be considered a long shot to make it through training camp.

It's never certain that a team will find a player who can produce in the back half of the NFL Draft, but the Steelers swung four times and missed four times. Harvin III has produced the most out of the group, and he was statistically one of the worst punters in the NFL over the last three seasons. Prisco was generous giving Pittsburgh a C-, as this draft class probably deserved much worse.

What do you think of the Steelers' 2021 draft class? Let us know in the comments below!

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