NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has released his best-case scenario for each team through the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, and believes the Pittsburgh Steelers should take a center and edge rusher.
In the first round, Reuter has the Steelers drafting Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey with the 24th pick.
“The retirement of Maurkice Pouncey leaves a hole in the Steelers’ offense. Humphrey is an athletic lineman with a wrestling background, which means he brings the toughness the team wants up front,” Reuter writes.
Humphrey was a three-year starter for the Sooners, earning First-Team All-Big 12 and Third-Team All-American honors in 2020. He was also a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s top center, in 2019.
Humphrey also impressed at Oklahoma’s pro day last month in Norman, dominating in the vertical jump (33 inches), bench press (29), 3-cone (7.54 seconds), broad jump (112 inches) and shuttle (4.46 seconds).
With their second round selection, Reuter is following a recent trend and projecting an edge rusher to the Steelers in Texas’ Joseph Ossai.
“His intelligence, quickness and high motor make him a great fit for the Steelers,” Reuter writes.
Even though the Steelers selected outside linebacker Alex Highsmith in the third round just last year, Ossai would provide another potent pass rusher opposite T.J. Watt.
He tallied 165 total tackles, 30 tackles-for-loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions over three seasons in Austin.
Ossai was named a First-Team All-American in 2020, while also earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
The 2021 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday, April 29 in Cleveland.