Tim Benz: Returning Steelers should help team's decision-making during NFL Draft

I can only imagine the emotional swirl within the wave of Steelers players who recently rejoined the team just a matter of weeks after being turned loose.

I don’t have to imagine the emotions of the fan base, however. I see them on display constantly on social media and in the comments sections of columns.

And in my email. Boy, do you folks love to email. Some of you really need to back off.

Especially that Saudi prince who keeps sending me messages, asking for money to help his defense fund after he was illegally jailed. Your Highness, ease up. I told you, the check is in the mail. There’s not much else I can do!

Based on what I’m seeing, much of “Stiller Nation” has vacillated between hoping the core of a team that started 11-0 in 2020 would stay together as much as possible for one more year and saying good riddance to guys who were “expendable” and about to get overpaid.

Now it seems Pittsburgh wants to throw a parade every time one of these allegedly replaceable guys returns for less money than expected.

I’ve managed to avoid that ping pong game. Whether Vince Williams, Tyson Alualu and JuJu Smith-Schuster are back in 2021 or not, I see the team as being an eight- or nine-win club in the new 17-game schedule.

With or without those guys — or fellow unsigned potential returnees Alejandro Villanueva and Steven Nelson — I can’t see this club ending Pittsburgh’s four-year drought without a playoff win.

Agree with me on that projection or not. That’s your business. But I think we all should be in agreement on one matter: Whatever impact these guys have on the immediate outcome of 2021 is likely to be less than what their impact will be on the franchise’s strategy in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The return of these players — along with potentially Villanueva and Nelson — closed some of the glaring gaps on the roster.

As tempting as this crop of rookie wide receivers is, now there’s no need to draft one in the first two days. Smith-Schuster will be woven back into a depth chart that already features Diontae Johnson, James Washington, Chase Claypool and Ray-Ray McCloud.

Conversely, this draft is remarkably thin when it comes to interior defensive linemen. As is the current Steelers roster. So Alualu’s decision to spurn the Jacksonville Jaguars and remain in Pittsburgh is quite a coup for coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert so they don’t have to burn a pick on yet another Carlos Davis or Isaiah Buggs type of reserve.

If Nelson lets bygones be bygones and returns for a cheaper price, suddenly the Steelers will have at least three capable cornerbacks again.

After the way his release went down, however, don’t hold your breath on that one.

So 2021 analytics be damned, the organization should draft that running back it so badly needs in the first round if Travis Etienne (Clemson) or Najee Harris (Alabama) are available at pick No. 24.

Or get the best center available as the potential long-term replacement for Maurkice Pouncey. No rule says that job has to go to B.J. Finney or J.C. Hassenauer.

Assuming Pat Freiermuth and Florida stud Kyle Pitts are long gone within the first 40 picks, take Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame) or Hunter Long (Boston College) late on Day 2 to replace retired tight end Vance McDonald and maybe supplant Eric Ebron in 2022.

As for inside linebacker, that is still a head-scratcher. If Harris and Etienne are gone, do they pass on the likes of Zaven Collins (Tulsa), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame), Jabril Cox (LSU) or Jamin Davis (Kentucky) if they are still on the board just because they reclaimed Williams and have Robert Spillane next to a healing Devin Bush?

That may be shortsighted. As it would be to ignore one of the many highly regarded tackles in this year’s draft until Round 3.

But the Steelers have already thrown a lot of … uh, stuff … against the wall to see if it sticks at that position by promoting Chuks Okorafor last year and signing Joe Haeg from Tampa Bay this spring. Not to mention retaining Zach Banner to the tune of $9.5 million over two years.

Let alone if Villanueva should really return at a discounted rate.

As I’ve stated before, the Steelers are still thin enough on their roster that it’s hard to argue against them addressing any position. So if they were to reinforce inside linebacker, corner or tackle — even if all of those positions are eventually occupied by returning veterans — I won’t complain. Anyone selected at those spots may come in handy this year as well as for the future.

Just so long as they get a potential starting running back.

Get … the … running back. Please!

If nothing else, though, at least the returns of some of these recently dismissed Steelers should streamline the franchise’s draft strategy. By helping the team a little bit on the field in 2021, their presence may allow the front office to help the franchise for 2022.

And beyond.