The Steelers appear to have drafted a very productive class of rookies, many of whom could see extensive playing time in high-leverage situations.

On offense, first-round pick Najee Harris will be the featured running back. Third-round selection Kendrick Green should start the year at center. Second-rounder Pat Freiermuth already is pressing the starter, Eric Ebron, at tight end. And Dan Moore, a fourth-round tackle from Texas A&M, improved as the preseason went along to the point that he might find himself at least as the extra tackle who dresses on gameday.

Defensively, inside linebacker Buddy Johnson (fourth round), outside linebacker Quincy Roche (sixth round) and defensive back Tre Norwood (seventh round) could contribute on special teams, with Norwood in the mix to work his way into nickel or dime situations.

Fifth-round defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk has flashed along the defensive line during practices and preseason contests. Seventh-rounder Presley Harvin III should grab the punting job away from Jordan Berry after both performed very well during the preseason.

Now the question becomes, how much does the coaching staff want to trust this draft class in what could be the final year of the franchise quarterback’s career?

In what the organization also hopes is a season that ends a four-year slump without a playoff victory.

After all, one simple rookie mistake at an inopportune time could cost the Steelers a game.

And one game could be the difference between a playoff berth and another long offseason without a playoff victory.

According to Harris, though, the front office and the coaches were of the mindset that this rookie group could be counted upon when games are on the line.

In fact, he makes it sound like the organization was counting on it the moment the draft ended.

“With this rookie group, we get better every day,” Harris said after the team’s preseason victory over the Detroit Lions. “Coming in, a lot of us had a good opportunity to play as rookies. To get better every day as a rookie was really emphasized a lot this year because a lot of us would play early.”

Extended playing time for this class shouldn’t be a surprise, given how the Steelers appeared to draft with an eye toward addressing areas of pressing need, as much as they always claim to prioritize simply drafting “the best player available” in each round.

There was no featured running back on the roster before Harris was chosen at pick No. 24. Second tight end Vance McDonald and starting center Maurkice Pouncey retired, thus opening spots for Freiermuth and Green to claim if they earned them in training camp and the preseason.

And Harvin simply had to outkick Berry and build enough of a report with Chris Boswell as his holder to win the punting spot. My guess is that probably has happened, despite Berry’s solid effort to retain his job.

While immediate starting jobs weren’t open for Moore, Johnson, Loudermilk, Roche and Norwood, those positions needed depth, and those guys likely will find themselves on the field at some point or another early this season.

Just about every member of the class — at least those that have had some extended engagement with the media — has displayed noticeable levels of off-field poise, intelligence and maturity.

Every member of the draft class attended a Power 5 college. None of them seem overwhelmed in the moment. And they’ve each popped with at least one or two noteworthy plays or solid overall outings in the preseason, suggesting the stage isn’t too big.

On the offensive side, coordinator Matt Canada says that maturity is easy to observe and a welcomed attribute to coach.

“All four of those (offensive rookies) are football guys who have come in and acted like pros,” Canada said last week. “From a coaching perspective, we’re very happy with the way they work at it. Very happy.”

In the pre-draft process, coach Mike Tomlin says those personality traits are never a certainty. But it is a priority for the Steelers to discover whatever may be possible.

“We’re always trying to get a complete picture of our prospects, but some of the (off-field qualities) you mentioned never really get confirmed until you get a chance to work with somebody day-to-day,” Tomlin said. “The rest of it is just speculation. That’s why we get out and get our boots on the ground and visit guys — pro days and things of that nature — in an effort to unearth some of those things. We value all of that.”

In the case of the 2021 Steelers draft class, the future plus the present must negate the past.

In other words, if Harris is right and Steelers brass has been counting on this group of first-year players to contribute heavily to this season’s results, it will gain valuable experience for the future immediately.

How they handle themselves in the present has to be much more tangible and consistently “above the line” or “varsity level” as Tomlin likes to say.

If that happens, maybe the Steelers can put an end to their recent past results of failure and frustration in December and January.

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