The Pittsburgh Steelers have several needs on their 2021 roster, and they are looking to rebuild their roster, especially on offense, through the 2021 NFL Draft. With the salary cap dipping from $198.2 million dollars in 2020 to $183 million dollars in 2021, teams like the Steelers were forced to be more spectators than buyers when NFL Free Agency started in March.
Teams with little to no cap space were forced to look ahead to the draft and hope to start the rebuilding process the old fashioned way — through the draft.
But this isn’t anything new with the Steelers, they have always tended to build from within, focusing on drafting players rather than going out and spending big money on free agents.
With that said, and the NFL Draft just weeks away, it is fair to say the Steelers’ team needs are starting to come into shape. Pro Days are all but over, and the Steelers’ scouts, coaches and front office personnel are starting to construct their draft boards.
What are the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft process? NFL.com’s Dan Parr ranked the team needs for all 32 teams. See what he says about the Steelers:
Biggest needs: OL, RB, EDGE, CB, LB
With time likely running low on the remainder of Ben Roethlisberger’s career, the Steelers’ main focus in the draft should be bolstering an offensive line that will be replacing at least two starters (Maurkice Pouncey and Matt Feiler) and injecting life into a running game that ranked dead last a season ago.
In my opinion, putting OL (offensive line) as a team need is a cop-out. Of course the Steelers need to add along the offensive line, but what position takes precedence? Would a tackle be a top need over a center or guard? Those are truly the difficult questions the Steelers face, but outside of that there is no arguing Parr’s team needs. The Steelers absolutely need to add to their offensive line depth, running back, pass rusher, linebacker alongside Devin Bush and with Steven Nelson released the cornerback position also becomes a need.
What do you think? Is there a position you would rank ahead of another? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft and the remaining time in Free Agency.