Pittsburgh Steelers draft grades: Big hits and big misses

Round 3 Pick 87, Kendrick Green C: A

Kendrick Green was the third selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 NFL Draft filling a needed position at center. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their starting center, Maurkice Pouncey, this off-season due to retirement, and was pretty obvious the Steelers would take a center at some point. Kendrick Green makes a lot of sense in the third round and could be a potential starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers next season. Green continues on the trend of improving the run game after already picking a running back and a tight end with solid blocking ability.

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not extend Randy Fitchner this off-season and named quarterback coach Matt Canada to be his replacement. These three draft selections make it pretty obvious to tell Canada will be focusing on more of a zone running scheme this season calling the plays.

Kendrick Green is a great zone blocker who displays great usage of hand strikes approaching blocks and obtains great mobility off the line of scrimmage. The Steelers loved pulling Pouncey on outside runs, and Green has all the tools to fill in and replicate pulling outside. Green fits exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers want to do on the line of scrimmage making him a great pick in the third round.

Round 4 Pick 128, Dan Moore Texas A&M OT: C-

With the 128th pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally decided to go offensive tackle with Dan Moore out of Texas A&M. With Alejandro Villanueva not returning (he signed with the Ravens) they need some support for Roethlisberger’s blindside. Dan Moore was a solid pass blocker at Texas A&M but could use some work on a couple of aspects of his game. This is somewhat of a reach in the fourth round but was a need for a position that is in unclear waters.

Dan Moore has solid size for his position standing a 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds and seems to be an unfinished product. Moore doesn’t seem to be a day one starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers and needs some coaching to develop into that caliber of a player. While playing well in pass protection, the run blocking was not a strength for Moore and seemed to never really fully finish on run blocks. Dan Moore definitely adds some depth to a position of need but feels like a reach and a work in progress making this pick a C- grade.

Round 4 Pick Pick 140, Buddy Johnson Texas A&M LB: C

With their second selection in the fourth round, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Dan Moore’s teammate at Texas A&M, Buddy Johnson. Johnson is an undersized linebacker that showed a lot of promise coming out of college. He has good instincts off the ball in run support, had 18 tackles for loss last season, and fits the 3-4 scheme well in the Steelers defense. Johnson is 6-foot-2 and weighing 240 pounds, he isn’t the best athletic on the field but has a high motor to make up for it.

Buddy Johnson most likely will make a name for himself in special teams next year for the linebacker room is already filled with guys who have experience. Although Vince Williams was brought back for a year deal after being cut, so Buddy Johnson could sit for a year, improve, and potentially becoming a starter next season. Johnson’s high motor and tackling ability makes him a nice addition but needs some improvement in other areas like dropping into coverage giving him a pretty even grade.