I've made it clear the Steelers must prioritize drafting one of this year's top three running backs to fix their run game. You can read the Classroom about them here.
But the Steelers also need to invest in their offensive line to improve their run game, especially at center where they only have J.C. Hassenhauer and B.J. Finney who returned after bouncing around with two teams.
This isn't the year to find Maurkice Pouncey in the first round, as this NFL Draft class has good centers, but no clear cut great ones. But it is the year to find one in the second or third rounds who could contribute as early as this year and become part of the new generation on the offensive line with younger players like Kevin Dotson, Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner.
There are four definitive centers I see as players who would be worthy of getting the second round, when the Steelers have the 55th pick, and the third round when they have the 87th.
But some of them might not be available at 55, and other positions might have too tempting of prospects to pass up on in those rounds. That's why I advocated last week on Talking Points for the Steelers to trade back in the first round to get an extra pick on day two of the NFL Draft and address those options in the second and third rounds.
Here are my top options at center:
Landon Dickerson, Alabama
Dickerson might be a first round pick if it weren't for the several season ending injuries he's suffered over his four years at center. He's 6-foot-6, 326 lbs. and has very good athleticism to combine with that size. He's also the best offensive lineman of a strong Alabama class that includes Alex Leatherwood and Deonte Brown as other players in this class.
He made his reputation in the SEC being nasty at the point of attack, but also for being athletic enough to pull and lead block as a center. That's something Pouncey did plenty of during his prime, but lost some of that skill in his game over time.
Watch Dickerson here as he pulled to become a lead blocker at the point of attack, engaged the linebacker from Texas A&M and created the space for the solid run. His man may make the tackle, but it's 16-yards downfield:
That's useful at any level of football.
But Dickerson might be a player some team reaches on in the first round or gets in the early second. Drafting him at 24 would be a reach considering the other talent that will be available, but that's why trading back might make the pick a better investment.
As long as Dickerson is healthy, he would be a welcomed addition to the offensive line that could contribute right away and be part of the organization for years. That's nothing to neglect, but the Steelers have been burned plenty of times by the injury bug, especially in recent years.
That red flag might be too much to ignore to take at 24 or if the Steelers got an early second round pick via trade, but if he surprisingly fell to 55 he would be worth the pick.
Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
Here's the experienced center of the NFL Draft without the injury red flags. Humphrey isn't as explosive off the ball with the same athleticism to lead block in space that Dickerson boasts, but he's a three-year starter and a real leader in his offensive lines.
At 6-foot-4, 312 lbs., he's got the size to stand up to big defensive tackles in A-gap. He may not always drive them off the ball five yards downfield, but he does know how to out-leverage opponents with smart play, good feet and consistent hand technique to win those battles.
Here he was doing that to West Virginia, where he knocked his man down, sealed him away from the run, and completely controlled him the entire play:
Also, that's the 2018 version of Humphrey. He's gotten better at winning those battles every year.
He's be another ideal fit for the 55 pick, but wouldn't pose to be the dominant force that Dickerson might become. He would offer stability at the center position and a smart football player who could help both in protecting Ben Roethlisberger and teaming up with the offensive line to get the Steelers' run game back in order.
Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
This is the wildcard of the center class. Meinerz played Division III and dominated the competition in the small schools, which didn't have him on anyone's radar during the 2020 season. But that all changed when he dominated practice after practice at the 2021 Senior Bowl, and had a strong showing during that game.
Meinerz is 6-foot-3, 320 lbs. and knows how to move defensive tackles out of the hole with authority. He can hit in space and combines explosiveness in his lower body with strong hands to control his opponents.
This was what he did against UCLA's Osa Odighizuwa in a practice at the Senior Bowl. Watch the purple helmet in the black jersey engage the gold helmet in the white jersey and just how dominated Odighizuwa gets. Not only was he driven out of the play, he was pancaked in the process:
Exciting, right?
But coming from a small school still brings doubt to Meinerz' future for some. It's reasonable to note that performing well at one week for the Senior Bowl is not the same as playing for years against Power 5 talent. If Meinerz' big week was a flash in the pan, picking him in the second could be a setback if he stumbles in the NFL with adjusting to competing against that kind of talent every day.
I don't see that happening though, as his tape shows fundamentals that don't just go away because a player starts playing bigger and stronger opponents. If Meinerz is there at 55, the Steelers might have to consider him if the other centers are gone, and if they don't see the talent at other positions that they value as much as their need at center.
Meinerz' draft stock has been difficult to nail down as some rate him as a clear second round center, while others have him as a fringe third round center that might even fall to the fourth round. The Steelers may see that as an opportunity to wait and gamble at center, not picking Meinerz until the third round.
Josh Myers, Ohio State
Myers shares similarities to Humphrey in being a 6-foot-5, 312 lbs. center with out the athleticism to pull and consistently lead block in space. But he's also another consistent starter at center who knows how to win leverage in A-gap and play well as part of zone blocking schemes.
He won't explode a defensive tackle off the ball every play, but he will move them down the line and play within a strong offensive line. Myers projects to be a solid starting center in the NFL, but maybe not a phenomenal one.
Here's an example of what he can bring to the line in a zone blocking scheme. Watch No. 71 get on his man quickly, and notice his form as the frame freezes. You can see him drive his man down the line and to help open up the line for a big run:
Not an outstanding play, but a solid one.
That's where I see Myers as a prospect. He'll be consistent, offer stability at center and work well in an offensive line that has other talent around him. I don't see him as the game changer at center, but I do see him as a piece to the puzzle that could be the glue for the rest of the line. And that's worth something.
But I'm not sure if he will be worth the pick at 55 considering the cornerbacks, linebackers and edge rushers who could prove valuable right away. Myers might be the better fit with a later pick in the second round the Steelers acquire via trade, or if he somehow fell to the third round.
Kendrick Green, Illinois
Green would be my top safety option for the Steelers at center if they're unable to get their man on day two. He's a guard who transitioned to center for a few games and showed potential.
He's 6-foot-3, 300 lbs. and does flash the athleticism and to pull and lead block and work in space. He's a fit in the fourth round who needs polish and development. But watch this pass protection rep where he stands his man up and controls him from start to finish. You can see him as No. 53 to keep the play alive and open up space for his quarterback to scramble:
That's solid technique and effort.
But he needs work to be a starting center in the NFL. He would be a good option as a replacement guard early this season with the prospect of him upgrading to the starter at center. But that means Finney is probably starting for the first couple months.
Any waiting beyond that would be a serious gamble. There are diamonds in the rough who could work out like Pitt's Jimmy Morrissey who I've written could be a late round steal. But those aren't picks you expect to make an instant impact like the day two options available.
