The Steelers aren't in an ideal position heading into the NFL Draft. They have holes all over the roster and are picking late in the first round — long past when the top quarterbacks will be off the board. But at least the people in charge know what they're doing.
Draft Night might not be scintillating this year, but at least we know it won't be embarrassing.
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert held an in-person press conference Monday the first time in a year, and answered an array of draft questions. Perhaps most notably, Colbert said the Steelers wouldn't rule out drafting a quarterback, lending credence to the notion that Pittsburgh is eyeing Roethlisberger's replacement. But he also acknowledged the reality of the situation. With Roethlisberger under contract, their immediate options are limited.
"It's an unusual group in that we do have four [quarterbacks]," Colbert told reporters, including The Fan's Andrew Limberg. "Can you add a young one? Absolutely. We always have to be on the look out for that next guy and try to predict the value of taking the player at that position. Because most likely, a young quarterback won't play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. We've got four veteran guys we're going to try to sort through."
Roethlisberger gives the Steelers the best chance to be competitive next season. That means Colbert's top priority should be getting him help, namely at running back and offensive line. With that in mind, Colbert said the Steelers probably won't trade up. There's value in keeping their eight picks.
Some, including The Fan's Andrew Filliponi and Chris Mueller, think the Steelers should trade down.
That probably means it won't be a very flashy draft night, but that's fine. The most polarizing choice would be selecting a running back such as Alabama's Najee Harris or Clemson's Travis Etienne. Colbert correctly said the Steelers don't discriminate against talent.
"I don't think you can ever underestimate the value of a quality player at any position, and running back is no different," he said. "I understand that the game has changed, it's a more horizontal game than it is a vertical game. … If you have a dynamic player at any position, that player should make a difference, and running back is no difference."
The analytics suggest Harris would be a great fit here, and LaDainian Tomlinson said last week that Harris reminds him of "Le'Veon Bell 2.0" Surely, his ability to break tackles would fit in nicely. Harris accrued the fifth-most yards after contact in college football since 2018.
History shows the Steelers wouldn't keep Harris, or any first-round running back, around for long. The last running back who they drafted and re-signed was Verron Haynes … in 2002, according to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala.
Bell enjoyed three exceptional seasons, and during that time, the Steelers were paying him well below the market rate. It was great value. If Harris is truly "Bell 2.0," the same would apply to him.
It could be a rough couple of years for the Steelers, and the decision to extend Tomlin remains dubious. But Colbert has the right philosophy.
Now the question is, will his picks pan out?
