In Lance Zierlein’s post first-wave-of-free agency 2021 Mock Draft, he still has the Pittsburgh Steelers going a conventional route. He has the team taking Clemson RB Travis Etienne at #24 overall. In his explanation of the pick, he writes:
“Pittsburgh has been making due with bigger, less-explosive runners, but Etienne gives the offense an infusion of juice as both a runner and pass catcher.”
A solid assessment of Etienne’s game. In most years, the team has gravitated towards bigger backs like Le’Veon Bell, James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell, and even going back to the Rashard Mendenhall days.