What happened to the Steelers 2021 draft class?

The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner. The last few offseasons, I dove into a Steelers NFL draft classes starting with the longest-tenured draft pick and outlined each successive draft. In doing so, each player selected by the Steelers was highlighted as to how their NFL career, or lack thereof, took shape. Each year was outlined with the last three draft classes all combined into one since a large number of the players were still with the team.

Since it worked before, and since a lot of the research has already been done, let’s look back at the players from these drafts yet again each weekday leading up to the opening day of the 2025 draft. Instead of going all the way back to 2011, I decided to start in 2016 which is the first draft that still has multiple players in the NFL. But before starting, I highlighted players drafted by the Steelers in 2015 and before who were still in the NFL in 2024. For players no longer in the league, a lot of the information will be the same while others will be updated where needed.

Part 7 of 8 will highlight the Steelers 2021 NFL Draft which just finished up their rookie contracts.

So let’s take a look at the nine players drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 NFL draft:

Najee Harris

Running back, Alabama
Round 1
Pick 24

Not missing a start in four years with the Steelers, Najee Harris logged 68 games, a record for the first four years of player’s contract as his rookie season was the first year of the NFL expanded the 17 games. Additionally, Harris rushed for over 1000 yards in each of his four seasons with the Steelers with his top year being his rookie season of 1200 yards where he was also named to the Pro Bowl. With his best ability being his availability, Harris was a volume running back, not necessarily an efficient one. His career rushing average is only 3.9 yards per attempt. This is probably why the Steelers did not exercise the fifth-year option for Harris despite it being less than $7 million. Instead, Najee Harris moved on and signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers for $5.25 million with another $4 million in incentives.

Pat Freiermuth

Tight end, Penn St
Round 2
Pick 55

The only player from the draft class to earn a second contract before the end of his rookie deal, Pat Freiermuth is under contract through the 2028 season as he signed a four-year extension in 2024 for $48.4 million in new money. Freiermuth earned his second contract from appearing in 61 games his first four seasons with 220 receptions for 2190 yards and 18 touchdowns. Freiermuth found the end zone seven times in 2024, tying his rookie season. Although he has been a solid player for the Steelers through four seasons, many are still waiting for Freiermuth to break out when it comes to receiving yards as his career high came in 2022 with 732 yards.

Kendrick Green

Center, Illinois
Round 3
Pick 87

After being pushed into the starting lineup to start his rookie season, Kendrick Green was the Steelers starting center for the first 15 games of his NFL career. But after sustaining an injury, he missed the last two regular season contests and the Steelers playoff game in 2021. In 2022, Green made the 53-man roster but was a healthy scratch every week. After experimenting as a fullback during training camp, Green was unlikely to make the roster for 2023 so the Steelers traded him to the Houston Texans in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL draft which was ultimately used for the Steelers to trade for quarterback Justin Fields. In Houston in 2023, Green started three games at guard before he tore his meniscus against the Steelers in Week 4 and was placed on IR. The 2024 season saw Green appearing in all 17 games with one start. Hitting free agency for 2025, Green signed a one-year veteran salary benefit contract with the Buffalo Bills.

Dan Moore Jr.

Offensive tackle, Texas A&M
Round 4
Pick 128

Despite being a fourth-round draft pick, Dan Moore earned the starting job at left tackle in Week 1 of his rookie season. Only missing two games his entire career, Moore has 66 starts with the Steelers in what would normally be considered a great draft pick in getting a fourth round left tackle. But Moore’s play often came under criticism as he continually was a candidate for his position to be upgraded. Still, even after the Steelers drafting tackles in the first round of back-to-back drafts, Moore continued to hold onto the job his entire time in Pittsburgh. But with two first rounders needing to get on the field, the Steelers let Dan Moore walk at the end of the 2024 season and he got himself quite the contract. Signing a four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, Moore is set to receive $82 million with $50 million guaranteed.

Buddy Johnson

Linebacker, Texas A&M
Round 4
Pick 140

Often inactive, either as a healthy scratch or due to injury, Buddy Johnson was placed on the reserve/injured list ahead of Week 18 of his rookie season. Despite being a fourth-round pick, Johnson did not make the Steelers 53-man roster in his second season, nor was he signed to the practice squad. Ahead of Week 1, Johnson did land on the 49ers practice squad but was released in mid October. Johnson signed with the Houston Texans practice squad in November 2022 but was not given a contract following the season. For 2023, Johnson signed with the Chicago Bears in July but was waived/injured in the middle of August. Johnson signed with the Dallas Cowboy’s practice squad in October where he spent the rest of the 2023 season and signed a reserve/future contract for 2024. Johnson made the 53-man roster for 2024 where he appeared in 14 games as a special teams player and is under contract for 2025.

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Defensive tackle, Wisconsin
Round 5
Pick 156

After the Steelers used a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft to come back into the fifth round, there were a lot more expectations when it came to the defensive tackle. Still, Loudermilk made the team all four seasons and appeared in double digit games every year and even had five starts. Still, Loudermilk has been nothing more than a depth piece on the defensive line for the Steelers in a unit that could use an upgrade. Even though his rookie contract expired, Loudermilk did sign a one-year veteran salary benefit contract to come back to Pittsburgh for 2025.

Quincy Roche

Outside linebacker, Miami
Round 6
Pick 216

After failing to make the 53-man roster his rookie season, the New York Giants claimed Quincy Roche off of waivers before the Steelers could get him to the practice squad. Appearing in 14 games with three starts as a rookie in New York, Roche landed on the Giants practice squad in 2022 but did appear in three games through elevation and a brief signing to the 53-man roster. But instead of returning to New York, Roche signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers in January 2023. Once again Roche did not make the 53-man roster but was not claimed off waivers or signed to a practice squad. In October, Roche was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad where he spent the rest of the season. Just ahead of 2024 training camp, Roche signed with the Baltimore Ravens but was released in the middle of the preseason. Roche signed on to play in 2025 for the D.C. Defenders of the UFL but was released in March.

Tre Norwood

Defensive back, Oklahoma
Round 7
Pick 245

On the field for the first defensive snap of the season, Tre Norwood technically started Week 1 in his NFL debut. Appearing in 17 games with three starts his rookie year and 15 games with three starts in 2022, Norwood did not make the Steelers 53-man roster in 2023. Signed to the 49ers practice squad in late September, Norwood stuck there for a month before being released. Landing in Buffalo in early November, Norwood stayed on their practice squad for nearly 2 months before he was released at the end of December. Norwood signed on with the Birmingham Stallions in August of 2024 for the 2025 season.

Pressley Harvin III

Punter, Georgia Tech
Round 7
Pick 254

It doesn’t really matter how far someone can punt the ball if they can’t do it consistently. This seemed to be the biggest problem for Pressley Harvin and his three years in Pittsburgh. Looking great in training camp in the warm weather, as the cold Pittsburgh weather came in December and January, Harvin‘s number would drop off at the end of each season. After spending three seasons as the Steelers punter from 2001 through 2003, Pressley Harvin was released early in the 2024 offseason as the Steelers made it clear they were looking for improved production at the position. Harvin signed with the San Francisco 49ers in training camp of 2024 but did not make the 53-man roster.

What players drafted by the Steelers in 2015 and before are still in the NFL?
What happened to the Steelers 2016 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2017 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2018 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2019 draft class?
What happened to the Steelers 2020 draft class?