Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Although many of the numbers for the Steelers 2021 draft picks had been floating around, the Steelers officially announced the jersey numbers for their entire 2021 draft class on Thursday. JERSEY NUMBERS
It had previously been announced that first round draft pick Najee Harris would be wearing his number 22 just like he did in his four seasons at Alabama. The rest of the jerseys are also now official from the Steelers.
Pat Freiermuth will be donning number 88 when training camp opens in July. In college he sported the number 87 but it is currently issued to tighten Kevin Rader. Center Kendrick Green will bring a familiar number to the position as he has been issued number 53. One of two numbers he wore in college, Green’s other option of 55 is currently issued to Devin Bush. Offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr will get to keep his number 65 he wore while at Texas A&M.
In a recent episode of the Stat Geek podcast, I tackled the question posed to me about if the Steelers specifically looked to draft players who were larger than the players they would possibly be replacing. While larger is not always better when it comes to specific positions, it was interesting to see how the height and weight of the Steelers draft picks compared to players who were recently with the Steelers or who they would be fighting for playing time on the 2021 roster.
The biggest issue in tackling the question was getting a correct height and weight for the newly drafted players. With no NFL combine this spring, getting an accurate measurement was not the easiest task. Rather than trying to compile the information myself in order to get the best data, I decided to trust another source who hopefully did the job for me. Therefore, all heights and weights of every player listed are coming directly from Pro Football Reference and their player profiles.
By MARK LONG - May. 11, 2021 04:04 PM EDT FILE - Former Clemson teammates Travis Etienne and Trevor Lawrence pose with their Jacksonville Jaguars jerseys during an introductory press conference in Jacksonville, Fla., in this Friday, April 30, 2021, file photo. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP, File)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Trevor Lawrence was fielding calls, posing for pictures and still hugging everyone in sight when he realized the Jacksonville Jaguars were about to be back on the clock during the first round of the NFL draft.
The No. 1 overall pick paused the in-house festivities and turned up the sound on the big-screen television.
Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images
After the Pittsburgh Steelers selected nine players in the 2021 NFL draft, they continued to adding to the roster with eight undrafted free agents. With many draft profiles focusing on those players towards the top and middle of the NFL draft, it is time to get to take a look at these other members of the Pittsburgh Steelers who will have just as much opportunity to make the roster in 2021 as those who were selected in the draft, despite the more difficult path.
Remember, some draft profiles for these players are quite harsh as they are looking at them as a draftable prospect. Taking a flyer on an UDFA is a completely different story as many times the potential the player shows is what lands them on an NFL offseason roster.
The Loudermilkk Threadd
Okay, so maybe I just missed it, but it seems like somehoww fans haven t fully takenn holdd of this Loudermilk phenomenonn yet. I mean, the thread after the Holba pick quickly became the stuff of legend. The Loudermilk pick seems every bit as weird, even more so, and yet I haven t really seen any reaction at all beyond some mild expressions of perplexity.
Well pull yourself together, people! I know you re stunned, but this is where champions stand up and are counted. Blink and I ll cut your eyelids off, etc.
I mean, how has no one figured out yet how this guy is related? My first thought was that maybe they got him mixed up with someone else, but that s ridiculous. If his name were Bob Wills or something, maybe, but it s hard to believe there s an Isaacc Loudermilk or something who was a top notch CB for Boise St. If someone wants to look into that of course, I suppose it s worth a shot, but there has to be a family connection here I think. Is Louder