Add ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio to the list of NFL Insiders who think Najee Harris is primed for Pittsburgh — unless linebacker Zaven Collins is still on the board.
Florio writes that a "source with knowledge of the dynamics driving the 2021 draft" says the Steelers are expected to take either Harris or Collins if either player is available at No. 24 overall.
While Harris appears to be the consensus pick for the Steelers — five out of 14 recent mock drafts predict he'll be Pittsburgh's first-round choice — his selection would be polarizing. In recent years, teams have shied away from picking running backs in the first round, although it's worth noting only two drafts in recent memory (2013 and 2014) didn't feature a single back taken on opening night.
On Monday, Kevin Colbert said the Steelers are looking for the best players available, regardless of position. "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."
Harris was a beast at Alabama, coming off two straight 1,500-yard campaigns, and accumulating an eye-popping 1,891 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. Earlier this week, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport said "most teams" believe the Steelers will choose Harris.
Collins, who played his college ball at Tulsa, would give the Steelers a needed playmaker at linebacker, where they've lost Bud Dupree. The Oklahoma native won AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and was an unanimous All-American last year.
