Tim Benz: Steelers addressed many needs in the NFL Draft. Here are some that remain

Annually, this is my favorite Pittsburgh Steelers column to write. It’s my favorite column because, based on your responses, it’s your least favorite column to read.

But the numbers tell me you always end up reading it anyway.

After all, following the NFL Draft each year, every team’s fan base tends to believe their team has drafted seven or eight future Hall of Famers, each need on the club has been addressed and a Super Bowl title surely is pending.

The last thing you want is someone like me telling you holes still exist. But this is why I draw a paycheck. And why I love my job so much.

I get to tell you what you don’t want to hear.

So I’ve turned this column into a yearly tradition. I was a little conflicted writing this year’s edition, though. Because (and you are going to hate reading this part) I really liked the players general manager Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin drafted.

I’ll say it again. I like the 2021 Steelers draft class. I don’t have much to rail against when it comes to the players they selected.

More on that Monday at “Breakfast With Benz.”

However, the Steelers couldn’t patch all the gaps on their depth chart. Even with nine picks over seven rounds.

On the plus side, by just about every draft board available, they got the best running back in the draft (Najee Harris, Alabama) and the second-best tight end (Pat Freiermuth, Penn State).

They also nabbed two offensive linemen with upside in Illinois center Kendrick Green and Texas A&M tackle Dan Moore Jr. Then they added defensive depth and special teams help in another Aggie —linebacker Buddy Johnson — and Wisconsin defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk.

But now let’s turn to the fun part: complaining about what (or who) the Steelers failed to draft.

Competition to win the third cornerback job: The Steelers lost slot corner Mike Hilton in free agency, and starting corner Steven Nelson was released. Career reserve Cameron Sutton was retained in free agency and appears to be worthy of promotion. Perhaps he can start outside and move inside for sub-packages. But a third corner needs to emerge.

It likely will have to come from the existing group of defensive backs on the roster or additions cast aside from other teams before training camp ends because the Steelers waited 245 picks before getting help in the secondary. In announcing seventh-round pick Tre Norwood (Oklahoma) on ESPN, Tomlin described him as a “Swiss Army knife” defensive back. He sounds like a versatile corner who could help inside or out. So maybe he’ll be a Hilton-type surprise someday.

“That is something I can do as well,” Norwood said of Hilton’s former role in Pittsburgh. “Him playing in the slot. Able to do a lot of different things and coverages and a lot of different calls. That is something I feel I can do, as well.”

Yet still-developing third-year cornerback Justin Layne remains the best candidate to absorb most of the snaps outside. Undrafted 2020 signee James Pierre might still be the best option inside.

An obvious answer to replace Maurkice Pouncey in 2021: Green may become that guy eventually. All the scouting reports say he has NFL offensive line ability. And Steelers offensive line coach Adrian Klemm likes his upside.

“He is so athletic. He has great balance,” Klemm said Friday night. “He’s not timid at all, and he throws his hands. He can redirect. He’s got feet with a good center of gravity. His change of direction is excellent, and he just finishes plays with a nasty demeanor and imposes his will every play.”

However, Green only played four games at center for the Illini. He was a guard most of his college career. Barring a very quick acclimation to the position at the NFL level from Green, recently reacquired veteran B.J. Finney is probably still the Game 1 starter in the post-Pouncey era, with J.C. Hassenauer in the mix.

Pass-rushing depth: The Steelers seem to feel Alex Highsmith adequately will replace Bud Dupree at right outside linebacker. Based on his third-round pedigree, coachability and football intellect, that makes sense.

But it also seems like it may be a leap of faith for this season. As a 2020 rookie, Highsmith had just one sack in his six starts after Dupree injured his knee in Game 11.

Also, reserve outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi joined Dupree in Tennessee via free agency in March. So that essentially just leaves journeyman Cassius Marsh from last year’s team as depth at the position. And the Steelers didn’t address outside linebacker until the sixth round, when they chose Miami pass rusher Quincy Roche.

“There is opportunity there,” Roche said. “But nothing is going to be given to me. I understand I have to come in and work and grind. But that is right up my alley.”

In 10 games at Miami in 2020, he totaled 45 tackles with 14 1/2 for loss and 4 1/2 sacks. Prior to joining the Hurricanes, Roche was the 2019 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after gobbling up 13 sacks at Temple.

So Roche has talent. But if something happens to T.J. Watt, he will need to get up to speed quickly and could find himself soaking up significant snaps.

A starting threat at offensive tackle: Despite a wildly deep offensive tackle talent pool in this year’s draft, the Steelers likely didn’t find a rookie who is going to unseat either Zach Banner or Chuks Okorafor as a starter.

So those two better be as good as the franchise seems to think they are. Because, at least for 2021, Moore Jr. is unlikely to wedge his way into the starting lineup. As scouting expert Dane Brugler at The Athletic writes, “Moore needs to be more forceful with his hands to avoid leaning on blocks, but he moves well with body control and is an ascending talent to develop into a reliable NFL reserve at either tackle or guard.”

Unless Moore Jr. is well ahead of that curve, free agent signees Joe Haeg and Rashaad Coward better prove to be “starters in waiting” and not just insurance policies if Banner or Okorafor falter or get injured.

A successor for Big Ben: Despite the efforts of the national networks to talk the Steelers into drafting a quarterback to replace Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers did not.

Thankfully.

But next year, check back here if they don’t.