With the NFL Draft being only just a week away, many questions arise as to who the Pittsburgh Steelers first round selection will be. Many expect them to go after a prospect on the offensive side of the football in efforts to become a more balanced football team. Anyone who watched the slightest bit of Steelers football in 2020 knows that without this and the running back position improving, this offense will be completely one dimensional once again.
It’s more than obvious that this is the direction the team will be going on with the 24th overall pick. There were reports earlier in the week that the Steelers were reportedly “locked in” on three prospects at pick #24. Not a shock to any, two were offensive linemen and one was a running back -- Alabama’s RB Najee Harris and center Landon Dickerson, along with Oklahoma State 's offensive tackle, Tevin Jenkins. Being able to snag any one of these three would be a boost to this offense and it seems more fans would like the organization to prioritize going after Harris if still on the board at pick #24, and focus on the offensive line in the second and/or third round. Who's to say what direction they go?
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Whichever way the Steelers decide to go in the first round will affect how the rest of this draft goes for this team. Although this team has had their fair share of successful first round pick selections, the latter half of this team's success has come from selecting guys in the middle to later rounds. General Manager Kevin Colbert is known to build his team through the draft rather than spending money through free agency and has done an excellent job building a winning organization doing so. That being said, the first round is only one of seven, which means there are plenty of opportunities to grab young prospects with a successful future ahead of them in the later rounds as well.
Colbert’s track record of successful late round picks date back to the early 2000’s when guys like Ike Taylor (4th round in 2003), Larry Foote (4th round in 2004) , Brett Kiesel (7th round 2002) and Max Starks (3rd round in 2004) were all selected in the middle to late rounds. Everyone one of these guys were vital in the success of this team during that era and had lengthy careers in the black and gold that ended with Super Bowl rings. Not to mention, the Steelers were able to sign undrafted rookies Willie Parker (2004) and James Harrison (2002) who both had incredible careers in Pittsburgh capped off with highlight plays in the biggest game of the year that live on forever.
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Up until recently, we have seen players like Diontae Johnson (3rd round in 2019) , Cam Sutton (3rd round in 2017) , Kevin Dotson (4th round in 2020) and Vince Williams (6th round in 2013) find success in this league after being drafted in the later round of the draft, all are still on this football team and are going to be vital to the success of this organization for years to come. We can only hope that the organization can continue to scout players that might be considered “under the radar” type of talents that end up proving their worth when it comes time to play.
Point being, this team is not built just off of one particular player. Yes, every team has their superstars and this team is not short of them, but just like last year proved, everyone needs to do their job in order for this team to find success. You don't build a football team off of just one first round selection. You build a team selecting players who fit your scheme at the right position throughout the draft. The Steelers have proved that philosophy to be true and have the resume to prove it. All Steeler Nation can do at this point is hope the organization can continue their track record.
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