Steelers/NFL category, Page 322
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Wisconsin DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
Isaiahh Loudermilk Fifth-round pick, No. 156 overall Defensive end, Wisconsin 6-foot-6, 274 pounds Stats: As a senior in 2020, had 13 tackles, including 2 1/2 for loss with two sacks in six starts. In 2019, had 24 tackles, five for loss with three sacks, five pass breakups and two forced...
Steelers execute trade, select Wisconsin DE Isaiahh Loudermilk in 5th round
Entering the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers had 11 players capable of playing somewhere on the defensive line on their offseason roster. And despite that position group being universally regarded as the weakest in this year’s class, the Steelers traded into the fifth round Saturday to grab another big body...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Texas A&M ILB Buddy Johnson
BUDDY JOHNSON Fourth-round pick, No. 140 overall Linebacker, Texas A&M 6-foot, 229 pounds Stats: Led Texas A&M with 86 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles as a senior. Hometown: Dallas, Texas Tidbits: Given name is Devodrick Johnson. His mother gave her son his nickname because she thought...
New Steelers ILB Buddy Johnson was productive in college, but team likes his tools more
If nothing else was known about an inside linebacker prospect, targeting the one who was the leading tackler on the SEC’s best defense is a pretty good place to start. Not that Buddy Johnson’s new position coach knew his statistical resume. “I don’t look at the production numbers, OK?” Pittsburgh...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Texas A&M OT Dan Moore Jr.
Dan Moore Jr. Fourth-round pick, No. 128 overall Offensive tackle, Texas A&M 6-foot-5 1/2, 311 pounds Stats: Started each of the Aggies’ 36 games at left tackle over the past three seasons, in addition to one start at right tackle as a freshman in 2017. Hometown: Beaumont, Texas Why draft...
Steelers stick to offense, pick Texas A&M tackle Dan Moore Jr. in 4th round of NFL Draft
When Steelers president Art Rooney II said the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to take steps toward improving the NFL’s 32nd-ranked running game, he was serious. One look at the team’s top four picks in the NFL Draft rammed home Rooney’s intentions. The third day of the draft opened Saturday with...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers draft decisions don’t always add up
I liked the Steelers’ first draft pick — until they made their second pick. After the Steelers made their third pick, I felt OK again. Picking Alabama’s Najee Harris at No. 24 made perfect sense. He was the best running back in the draft. Harris will make more immediate impact...
Tim Benz: What’s not to like about Steelers’ Pat Freiermuth pick, other than he’s not a lineman?
I can hear the calls from the capacity crowd of Steelers fans at Heinz Field already. Well, assuming capacity crowds are allowed back in the fall. “MUUUUUUTH!” Eh, who am I kidding? They’ll still be yelling, “HEEEAAATTTH!” I’ve got little to complain about when it comes to Steelers second-round draft...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Illinois G/C Kendrick Green
Kendrick Green Third-round pick, No. 87 overall Guard/center, Illinois 6-foot-2, 305 pounds Stats: Started past 33 consecutive college games: four at center, 29 at left guard Hometown: Peoria, Ill. With the 87th pick in the #NFLDraft, we select C Kendrick Green. #SteelersDraft pic.twitter.com/lTrNbJ6S81— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 1, 2021 Tidbits:...
Steelers use 3rd-round draft pick to take Illinois center/guard Kendrick Green
With the No. 87 pick of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers got the center they coveted to replace retired Maurkice Pouncey. It just wasn’t the one that most draft experts expected. The Steelers selected Illinois’ Kendrick Green, a 6-foot-2, 305-pound redshirt junior. Green played guard as well as in...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth
PAT FREIERMUTH Second-round pick, No. 55 overall Tight end, Penn State 6-5, 251 Stats: 92 catches, 1,185 yards, 16 TDs in three seasons Hometown: Merrimac, Mass. Tidbits: Declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season. … Steelers GM Kevin Colbert, coach Mike Tomlin and new TE coach Alfredo Roberts...
Steelers take Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth with 2nd-round pick
When Pat Freiermuth’s phone rang Friday night, he didn’t know what to think. A New England native whose spent the past three years at Penn State, he’s encountered too many people from Pittsburgh to know exactly which of his buddies to trust. “When I saw that 412 area code, I...
Franco Harris puts stamp of approval on newest Steelers running back
A certain Hall of Fame running back offered a special greeting Friday afternoon to the newest member of the Pittsburgh Steelers backfield, one who carries an identical surname. “Welcome to Pittsburgh, cuz,” Franco Harris said with a laugh. To say Harris is happy the Steelers took former Alabama star Najee...
Tim Benz: Steelers got the best player at their biggest position of need. That’s enough ‘value’ for me.
During Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers got the player most analysts feel is the best player at their biggest position of need. All the way down at pick No. 24. It was a good night. Let’s not “yeah, but” ourselves to death on this one....
First Call: Ex-NFL star heard ‘rumblings’ of Steelers’ interest in Aaron Rodgers; Devils mock Flyers elimination
The Pittsburgh Steelers were dragged into the pre-draft Aaron Rodgers drama in Green Bay. Guess who did the dragging! It was a fun night for Penguins fans on multiple levels. The Pirates are getting their first look at the St. Louis Cardinals. And an interesting story from the Duquesne basketball...
Steelers players react to 1st-round pick Najee Harris
General manager Kevin Colbert said he was “ecstatic” that running back Najee Harris was available when the Pittsburgh Steelers made him their first-round pick late Thursday night. Judging by some of their posts on social media, Harris’ new teammates had similar reactions to adding the national champion from Alabama. Starting...
Steelers NFL Draft bio in brief: Najee Harris
Najee Harris First-round pick, No. 24 overall Running back, Alabama 6-foot-1, 232 pounds Stats: 1,466 rushing yards (5.8 per carry), 43 catches for 425 yards, 30 TDs in 2020; 3,843 rushing yards, 57 TDs from scrimmage in career Hometown: Antioch, Ala. Tidbits: Reigning Doak Walker Award winner as college football’s...
Steelers take Alabama RB Najee Harris with No. 24 overall pick in NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers got the running back they waited all night — and arguably the past three months — to select when they took Alabama’s Najee Harris with the No. 24 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday. “We were very excited he was there for us,” general manager...
Steelers extend QB Mason Rudolph’s contract for 1 more season
With only one quarterback on the roster signed potentially beyond this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers made Mason Rudolph the second. The Steelers announced Thursday less than hour before the start of the NFL Draft that they had signed Rudolph to a one-year extension. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted...
NFL Draft Guide 2021: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
This year’s NFL Draft is taking steps to get back to normal but with plenty of precautions because of covid-19. The 2020 draft went entirely virtual because of the covid-19 pandemic that was just starting to gain traction in the U.S. But with more people receiving their vaccines, some fans...
First Call: Brian Burke says Evgeni Malkin ‘cleared medically’ for trip; oddsmakers have Najee Harris on board for Steelers
If you believe the NFL Network reports, most people around the NFL think the Pittsburgh Steelers will select Alabama running back Najee Harris in the first round of the NFL Draft. And the oddsmakers think he’ll still be on the board to make that happen. One report says the Steelers...
Tim Benz: Forget anti-running back bias, Steelers should take Najee Harris or Travis Etienne if they are available
Let’s not overthink the Pittsburgh Steelers draft situation. I know the NFL analytics world — and many draft analysts — frown on the notion of drafting a first-round running back. Almost as much as they turn their noses up at the prospect of paying top dollar for one in free...
Chris Adamski’s mock draft: After years of misses in mid rounds, Steelers go RB in 1st
Sure, the “modern” thing to do is to resist the allure of taking a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft. The analytics prove it, the anecdotal evidence seems to support it and the smartest guys in the room all swear by it. Problem is for the...
Restricted access, limited information all part of this year’s draft process for Steelers
Draft preparations for this year’s event began last May for the Pittsburgh Steelers, which means the entirety of the process was conducted during the coronavirus pandemic. Meetings were held virtually. Attendance on college campus was limited to game days. The NFL Combine was canceled. “It’s been a real different, challenging...
Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown rejoins Buccaneers on 1-year contract
A week after settling a civil lawsuit with his former personal trainer who had accused him of sexual assault, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has rejoined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract. Brown’s deal, which he agreed to Wednesday, is for a guaranteed $3.1 million, includes...
