The 2020 NFL Draft was unlike any other before it in recent memory because schools were unable to host pro days because of the pandemic.
That left teams relying solely on the information they had gathered during the season, at the all-star games and the NFL Scouting Combine from which to select players.
Fast forward one year and the draft will be even more of a crap shoot. With the nation still largely shut down because of the pandemic -- though that is certainly starting to change -- many schools did not play football in the fall. Those that did were limited to having scouts on campus only for game days. And because of concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, many players opted to not play football last season. Then, the NFL canceled the scouting combine in Indianapolis in February.
That left only pro days -- and limited ones, at that -- for teams to be able to see players in person in a non-game day setting.
"The pandemic has challenged us in so many ways," Kevin Colbert said at an in-person press conference, the team's first in more than a year, Monday at Heinz Field. "It was challenging to get to this point in the draft process, almost more than last year."
Teams were limited to no more than three staff members per pro day and could only meet with prospects via Zoom calls.
But Colbert said he and Mike Tomlin personally attended nine pro days together at schools that had the most prospects in order to get the most out of the experience. The Steelers also have spoken to around 100 prospects via Zoom calls.
It's not the personal meetings that Colbert and Tomlin would have liked, but it will have to do in a pandemic.
"We feel comfortable with where we're at in the process," Colbert said.
The Steelers have eight picks in the three-day draft, which will begin Thursday night, including the 24th overall selection.
Colbert said the team's draft board is pretty much set at this point, though he added there will be some minor adjustments.
The team doesn't do mock drafts per se, with Colbert calling them a "waste of time" that the team hasn't done in a little over a decade. Instead, the Steelers will run through the first round of the draft making picks based on who they would take at each spot, which allows them to build their final board of 24 players they would select with the 24th pick.
Because of that, the Steelers don't anticipate trading up in the first round.
"We value those eight picks," Colbert said, though he did not rule out trading down to acquire more draft capital.
In other news:
• Neither Colbert or Tomlin would rule out selecting a quarterback in the draft, though Colbert noted the team currently has four quarterbacks on the roster -- Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs and Dwayne Haskins -- with NFL experience.
"Three of those four quarterbacks aren't under contract for next season, so we'll never rule out taking a quarterback," Colbert said.
Roethlisberger is technically under contract for 2022, though his contract voids three days after the Super Bowl. He and the team could easily extend his deal and skip the voidable year.
Tomlin did say, however, the addition of Haskins, the 15th pick in the 2019 draft by Washington, which released him last December, was intriguing.
"We have a 22-year-old quarterback who was considered a first-round talent recently," Tomlin said.
The Steelers wouldn't pass on a top-end talent at the position, but, as Colbert noted, that player would be highly unlikely to play a down in 2021.
"Can you add a young one? Absolutely. We always have to be on the look out for that next guy and try to predict the value of taking the player at that position," Colbert said. "Because most likely, a young quarterback won't play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. We've got four veteran guys we're going to try to sort through. Could you add someone that could be more guaranteed to be here for the future. Absolutely, and that's our job to try to value that."
• While noting the defensive line class is the weakest it has been in a number of years, Colbert said the draft is particularly deep at wide receiver, cornerback, offensive tackle, linebacker and center.
Colbert said the depth at quarterback, running back and tight end is OK.
"I'm excited about the depth of this draft," Colbert said. "I think we can get eight players who can help this team."
• When asked about using the draft to fix the Steelers' running game, which finished last in the NFL last season, Tomlin said the issue was as much about schematics as it was about who the Steelers were running the ball with.
That would point the finger at Tomlin and his staff and be a pretty big reason why offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett were both replaced at the end of the season. Matt Canada is now the new offensive coordinator, while Adrian Klemm is the offensive line coach.
"The improvements of the running game go beyond the acquisition of players," Tomlin said.
That said, you can expect the Steelers to select players who will help the team improve its running game. That could be offensive linemen. It also could be a running back early.
Some analytics people are against selecting a running back in the first round, but Colbert doesn't seem to fall into that category.
"I don't think you can ever underestimate the value of a quality player at any position, and running back is no different," Colbert said. "I understand that the game has changed, it's a more horizontal game than it is a vertical game. People don't play traditional football ... with two-back sets and power games. It has changed. But if you have a dynamic player at any position, that player should make a difference, and running back is no different.
"If you look at the Hall of Fame runners, most of those guys were taken in high rounds. I don't ever place that value, high or low, on a given position. I base it on who the player is and what that player can do to help us."
The Steelers didn't make an attempt to re-sign starting running back James Conner in free agency. He signed with the Cardinals. Center Maurkice Pouncey retired, while left guard Matt Feiler signed with the Chargers. Left tackle Alejandro Villanueva remains a free agent.
• Tomlin was asked why James Pierre saw more playing time in the playoff game against the Browns than Justin Layne, who had previously played when either Joe Haden or Steven Nelson missed time.
He said it had nothing to do with Layne but more to do with how the team felt Pierre was practicing, calling both "ascending players."
Layne, a 2019 third-round draft pick, was arrested last week in Cleveland for driving on a suspended license and for having a loaded weapon in his vehicle. He played just over 100 snaps in 2020. Pierre, an undrafted rookie last season, played eight defensive snaps in the playoff loss to the Browns compared to none for Layne.
Cameron Sutton is now the starter opposite Joe Haden after Nelson was released in a cost-cutting move in the offseason. Layne and Pierre will compete for playing time behind them. And neither Tomlin or Colbert would rule out adding another cornerback or two in the draft.
• For those thinking the Steelers will be forced to take an edge rusher early in the draft to help offset the loss of outside linebacker Bud Dupree, don't necessarily expect that to happen.
The team is very excited about the future of Alex Highsmith, a third-round pick in 2020 who started the remainder of the season after Dupree suffered a torn ACL in Week 11.
"In regards to the loss of Bud and the expectations and the depth and things at that position, the lynchpin to that entire discussion is the natural maturation of Alex Highsmith from Year 1 to Year 2,” Tomlin said. “You know the standard of expectations that we have for our young players moving from [Year] 1 to [Year] 2.He could be the poster boy for that.
"We need a significant rise in terms of all areas of play from him. But I also think it’s reasonable to expect it given what he’s been exposed to, given the quality young man that he is and his work ethic and the environment we intend to put him in. I think it’s reasonable to expect him to rise up and meet the challenges.”
• Last summer, Colbert said the Steelers would value players who did not opt out of playing in 2020 over those who did not play.
Monday, he reiterated that stance, saying if two players were graded similarly, the Steelers would take the player who played more recently.
"We don't know how long it will take those players who didn't play to get back to football speed," Colbert said.
Colbert did note that it was especially difficult for players in the PAC-12 and Big Ten. Both of those leagues initially said they were not going to play in 2020, causing a number of players to either hire and agent or leave school to begin training for the draft process.
Then, both conferences reversed course, leaving those players who had hired agents or left school unable to play.