The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2021 draft class has already been reduced to one survivor, and that alone tells the story. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is the only player from that nine-man group still on the roster after his rookie contract, while Najee Harris was the headliner of a class that simply didn’t deliver.
But the pick that still stands out as the most painful, especially when you look at what was available, is Illinois interior lineman Kendrick Green.
That choice looks even rougher now after ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his top-10 guards and centers, as voted on by NFL execs, coaches, and scouts. Steelers center Zach Frazier didn’t even make the honorable mention list.
Worse for Pittsburgh, Chiefs center Creed Humphrey came in at No. 3 and Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz checked in at No. 4.
Those rankings hit hard because the Steelers had multiple chances to land either player in 2021.
When longtime Pro Bowl and All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey announced his retirement on February 12, 2021, the Steelers suddenly had a clear opening on the interior offensive line. That made the draft board at the position especially important, and Humphrey and Meinerz both fit the bill as high-end options.
Humphrey and Meinerz had both impressed during Senior Bowl week and backed it up with film that pointed to first- or second-round value. Humphrey was the 27th overall player on my pre-draft big board that year, while Meinerz sat at 42nd. Green, by contrast, didn’t crack the top 150.
Pittsburgh opened by taking Najee Harris in Round 1. Then, with Humphrey still available in Round 2, the Steelers passed again and chose Freiermuth to address tight end.
By the time the third round arrived, Humphrey was gone, but Meinerz was still there. That should have been the easy call.
Meinerz brought center/guard versatility and the kind of anchoring strength that translates quickly. Instead, the Steelers surprised by taking Green, an undersized Big Ten lineman who needed plenty of refinement.
The size and strength concerns were always part of the problem. Green measured 6-foot-1 7/8, weighed 305 pounds, and had 77-inch arms, and he was often overwhelmed at the point of attack.
His run in Pittsburgh lasted only two seasons. In his final year with the team, Green spent the entire season on the inactive list and never appeared in a regular-season game.
Meanwhile, Humphrey has turned into one of the league’s best centers, piling up four Pro Bowls and two First-Team All-Pro selections with Kansas City. Meinerz has also become a standout, earning back-to-back First-Team All-Pro honors at guard for Denver along with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2025.
For the Steelers, the regret is obvious. They had two shots at Humphrey and three chances at Meinerz with the picks they held. Instead, they ended up with Green, a player who already feels long forgotten in Pittsburgh, even as the alternatives keep thriving elsewhere.
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