Tim Benz: After Najee Harris, Steelers' draft choices are more about future than present

May 3—I'm a fan of the new Pittsburgh Steelers draft class, even if I'm a bit confused by it.

Because what I like about it in 2021, I'll love about it in 2022.

Which is good. Drafts are about building a foundation for the future. The problem is that the franchise made it look like it was teeing up a final big swing at a Super Bowl.

After all, the front office reworked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's contract. It retained defensive back Cameron Sutton and tackle Zach Banner. Plus, it pulled receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, linebacker Vince Williams and nose tackle Tyson Alualu back from the free-agent market.

All those indicators give the impression that this year's Steelers team is gearing up for one more fully committed ride in the Roethlisberger era. The message was further driven home when the organization broke the NFL mold of avoiding running backs in the first round of the draft via the selection of Alabama's Najee Harris at No. 24 overall.

Harris addressed the softest spot on the Steelers roster, and the hope is he'll spark an immediate correction in the team's weakest statistical category from last year. The Steelers ranked last in the NFL in rushing a season ago.

So Harris looks like both a quick fix for this season, as well as a staple in the backfield for at least four years thereafter. From there, though, it appears the Steelers concentrated much more on long-term investments than filling immediate needs.

The most obvious example of that thinking was how the Steelers operated on Day 2 of the draft when they selected Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth as the 23rd pick in the second round instead of either Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey (31st pick in the second round) or Ohio State center Josh Myers (30th pick in the second round).

Humphrey and Myers were multi-year, decorated starters at center. Both appear to have the potential to start immediately. That attribute would've come in handy this year, as the Steelers search for a successor to the retired Maurkice Pouncey.

The center eventually selected by Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert in the third round, Illinois' Kendrick Green, might have that ability as well. And the Steelers think he has significant upside.

But he only has four starts at center, after playing much of his career as a guard with the Illini. As a result, don't be surprised if we see B.J. Finney under center for one bridge year, or at least at the start of 2021. Especially if Roethlisberger doesn't feel like breaking in a new center during what could be his last season.

Meanwhile, Freiermuth is unlikely to become a full-time starter until '22 at the earliest since Eric Ebron is under contract. Plus, with Smith-Schuster returning to an already deep wide receiver group and Harris likely to stay on the field for all three downs quite often, Freiermuth's targets may not be significant in 2021.

For as much concern that exists in the fanbase and media about Zach Banner and Chuks Okorafor as starting tackles, the Steelers don't seem to share it. So fourth-round selection Dan Moore Jr. (Texas A&M) may not be in the mix until 2022 at the earliest.

Along with retaining Williams at inside linebacker, the Steelers re-signed Robert Spillane. So fellow fourth-round Aggie Buddy Johnson will probably be limited to special teams.

Anticipate the same result for sixth-rounder Quincy Roche (OLB, Miami-Fla.) and Tre Norwood (DB, Oklahoma) if they make the team. That's unless Norwood immediately proves he can be the replacement for Mike Hilton as the slot corner and Roche flies past Alex Highsmith and Cassius Marsh on the depth chart at outside linebacker opposite T.J. Watt.

Wisconsin defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk (fifth round) projects as depth until Stephon Tuitt's contract expires after 2022.

In fact, after Harris, the next rookie with perhaps the best chance to cash in the majority of snaps at his position is seventh-round punter Pressley Harvin III. That's if he can beat out incumbent Jordan Berry.

For as much as people enjoy "grading" draft classes, the Steelers 2021 group appears poised to have a lot of incompletes for its first season. Well, unless the team endures a series of unfortunate injuries. Which, based on the precedent of recent years, isn't out of the question.

None of this commentary is a condemnation of who the Steelers selected in the draft. It is, however, a question of their desired direction for 2021. And their full investment in what is believed to be Roethlisberger's last season.

Had they drafted a more polished center in the second round, a more obvious potential starter at cornerback or tackle in the third, and put the No. 2 tight end job on the back burner, I'd have a different opinion.

This class looks like more of a nest that's being built for Roethlisberger's replacement than it is a boost for him over the next seven months.

That's not a bad thing. Actually, I kinda prefer it. But, beyond Harris, the messaging sent by the draft's makeup is divergent from the perceived "win now" goal initially advanced by keeping Big Ben and all those other vets.

This Steelers draft class was constructed with an eye toward present needs, yet it was cobbled together with the future in mind more than the franchise will ever say out loud.

Which, ironically, might be what I like the most about it.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.