Steelers like Green's 'nasty demeanor' as third-round center/guard

Kevin Colbert continued his all-out blitz of offensive picks on the first two days of the 2021 NFL Draft Friday.

After selecting running back Najee Harris in the first round and tight end Pat Freiermuth in the second round, the Steelers selected Illinois offensive lineman Kendrick Green with the 87th overall pick:

Green just finished his junior season with his 33rd consecutive start for Illinois in 2020. He played primarily as a guard, but also started at center for three games. He's a big, physical interior offensive lineman at 6-foot-2, 305 lbs. He earned Second-Team All-American honors from USA Today, becoming the first Illinois offensive player to earn such an honor since 2011.

Friday night, Green being selected in the third round by the Steelers made him the seventh interior offensive lineman picked in the NFL Draft. The move coincided with the team's need to replenish their offensive line, especially when All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey retired after the 2020 season.

But Pouncey's absence opened up a major hole in the line, leaving the Steelers with only B.J. Finney returning from a tough year with both the Seahawks and Bengals, and J.C. Hassenhauer.

Green could be a potential challenger for the starting spot against Finney. The lineman out of Peoria, Ill. said that both Mike Tomlin and offensive line coach Adrien Klemm spoke to him about playing center for the Steelers in 2021. The Steelers need offensive linemen to block more aggressively after finishing last in rushing offense in 2020. Klemm sees Green as the type of lineman who can help change that tone.

"He just runs off the ball," Klemm said when describing Green Friday. "He's not timid at all. He redirects guys, has good feet, good center of gravity and he just finishes. He plays with a good, nasty demeanor. He tries to finish his opponent and impose his will every single play."