Pittsburgh Steelers: Grades for every 2021 NFL Draft pick

Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 NFL Draft Grades: Rounds 3-4

Round 3 (No. 87): IOL Kendrick Green, Illinois: A

The more tape of Kendrick Green I watch, the more I love this pick for Pittsburgh. Not just because he has a brand of a horseshoe on his arm but because the All-Big Ten center is one of the most balanced in this class.

He’s athletic, yet scrappy; he’s hard-nosed, yet light on his feet. He will come in and be the immediate starter at center and you can’t get more value than that from a third-round pick.

Round 4 (No. 128): OT Dan Moore Jr, Texas A&M: C+

Moore is another guy that screams “Matt Canada scheme fit.” He played in a scheme at Texas A&M that was very zone-based, which is similar to what Canada will run in Pittsburgh.

Nothing about Moore is incredible; he has solid athleticism and good striking ability, but his grip does need improvement. He will compete for the starting left tackle job with Chuks Okorafor and don’t be surprised if he wins the job.

Round 4 (No. 140): LB Buddy Johnson Jr, Texas A&M: C

The second-straight Aggie taken for the Steelers was the inside linebacker, Buddy Johnson Jr. He is very quick and athletic, and also possesses a good nose for the ball near the line of scrimmage.

That said, his coverage skills need refined. He will more than likely be a situational defender in short-yardage situations. While there is value in a guy like Johnson, the Steelers really should have addressed their issues at cornerback here, a theme that will stick through the rest of these grades.