2021 Steelers NFL Draft Scenario 3.0: With all RBs available, Steelers take the proven commodity

With the 2021 NFL Draft just days away, it is time to start doing what all NFL teams are doing at this time in their draft prep. Teams are going through an endless amount of scenarios trying to decipher what they will do if the draft falls a certain way.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have any number of directions they could go in the upcoming selection process, so it is time to start running the scenarios leading up to the big event!

Check out previous scenarios below:

For clarification, as well as consistency, I am using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator. On top of that, I am always using the Predictive Board, and the manual option, during these simulations. It also should be noted there are never any fictitious trades in these scenarios.

23. NY Jets - Jaelan Phillips, EDGE Miami

22. Tennessee - Alex Leatherwood, OT Alabama

21. Indianapolis - Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota

20. Chicago - Mac Jones, QB Alabama

19. Washington - Greg Newsome II, CB Northwestern

18. Miami - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame

17. Las Vegas - Zaven Collins, LB Tulsa

16. Arizona - Micah Parsons, LB Penn State

15. New England - Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State

14. Minnesota - Teven Jenkins, OT Oklahoma State

13. LA Chargers - Christian Darrisaw, OT Virginia Tech

12. Philadelphia - Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech

11. NY Giants - DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama

10. Dallas - Jaycee Horn, CB South Carolina

9. Denver - Patrick Surtain II, CB Alabama

8. Carolina - Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern

7. Detroit - Penei Sewell, OT Oregon

6. Miami - Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU

5. Cincinnati - Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama

4. Atlanta - Kyle Pitts, TE Florida

3. San Francisco - Justin Fields, QB Ohio State

2. NY Jets - Zach Wilson, QB BYU

1. Jacksonville - Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson

This third scenario played out almost exactly as the second scenario, but instead of taking a center, which I did in the 2.0 scenario, I decided to focus on the ground game. The center class is deep, and I feel as it the Steelers will be able to target a center on Day 2, but on Day 1 they take a play maker.

That play maker would be none other than Najee Harris out of Alabama.

The Steelers have been rumored to be highly invested in Harris, and why wouldn’t you be? The guy is a playmaker in every sense of the word. On top of that, he is a three down back who can do it all. Run, catch and block. The Steelers could utilize Harris in a multitude of ways as a rookie, without asking him to be the majority of the offense.

There will be those who bemoan the selection, as always, but if the Steelers want a player who can contribute on Day 1, could be the starter at the onset of 2021 and could make the offense better, Harris fits that description.

After taking Harris in the first round, the Steelers would target positions like center, offensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker and other positions in the coming rounds. This would be a very polarizing selection for the Steelers, but I have a feeling the Harris jerseys would be flying off the shelves come Week 8 of the 2021 regular season.

This is just the one of many NFL Draft scenarios I’ll be doing, every time finding a new prospect/approach which could dictate who the Steelers might select in the first found of the 2021 NFL Draft.

What do you think of the pick, given who was still available when it was the Steelers’ pick? Let us know in the comment section, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.