Pittsburgh Steelers: 2021 NFL Draft positional needs
By Jonah Hovis
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a very cold ending to the season after starting off 11-0. The Steelers would go on to lose four of their last five regular-season games and ultimately losing to the Browns at home in the AFC Wild Card round. There are a lot of questions and holes to be filled and answered this off-season for the reigning AFC North champions for what they will do in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Steelers decided to not extended their Offensive Coordinator Randy Fichtner and it seems that Quarterback coach Matt Canada will be filling that role this upcoming season. Many are wondering what the status for Ben Roethlisberger will be and will be dressed in the black and yellow in 2021 or will they decided to take a guy in the 2021 NFL Draft (we will get to that later). Also what positions will need to be filled in the 2021 NFL Draft due to free agency and seeing the weak parts in the offense due to injury this previous season
Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 NFL Draft needs: 1. Offensive Tackle
This season the Steelers were dead last in run offense in the entire NFL. It did not help that the first game of the season starting right tackle Zach Banner tore his ACL against the Giants and they had a lot of inexperience to back him up with Chukwuma Okorafor would finish the season at that position for they moved last years started, Matt Feiler to left guard.
With it trending that Big Ben Roethlisberger will be playing next year the outside of the offensive line needs to be a priority for the Steel City during the 2021 NFL Draft.
With Alejandro Villanueva and former right tackle Matt Feiler both being free agents this off-season the tackle position is one in question for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With both Zach Banner coming off injury and Okorafor, last year’s starter at right tackle coming back, it seems that those two will be duking it out in OTA’s and training camp for the starting spot on the right side.
With Villanueva aging and declining in production from his Pro Bowl seasons in 2017 and 2018, left tackle is a position that you could be seen taken early in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Steelers.
Some notable candidates for this starting role for the Pittsburgh Steelers are Sam Cosmi from Texas, Jalen Mayfield from Michigan, and maybe in the second round with the offensive tackle from Notre Dame Liam Eichenberg.
Every year, offensive tackles have high value for they are a key position of need for all teams in the NFL. As much as Yinzers want the Steelers to take a marquee running back like Najee Harris or even someone to be the replacement for Big Ben, left tackle is the biggest need for the Steelers. Especially with the trend of Roethlisberger coming back and having little production in the run offense this season.