THIRD ROUND (87th overall)
Kendrick Green, OG/C, Illinois
WHO HE IS: Green is a 6-foot-17/8, 305-pound interior offensive lineman who started 33 consecutive games over the span of three seasons for the Illini (29 at guard and four at center) after arriving as a defensive lineman and redshirting in 2017. He also played baseball and wrestled in high school.
WHAT HE'S DONE: Most recently, Green blew up the Illinois Pro Day when he posted a 4.88 40-yard dash, a 351/2" vertical leap and a 9'11" broad jump, attention-getting numbers and then some when you're talking about a 300-pound player. Those explosion numbers confirmed what Green had put on tape, particularly in 2020 when he earned First-Team All-Big Ten and Second-Team All-American honors. Dane Brugler of The Athletic described Green as a player who "pounces out of his stance," and one who's "rangy with the lateral agility to easily reach, pull and advance to the second level."
One of Green's memorable highlights portrays driving a Nebraska defender about 15 or so yards off the ball and then finishing the play with a pancake.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "I feel like I'm the most athletic offensive lineman in this year's class and I play with a mean streak." _ Green.
"He's a special kid all the way around. I just kind of crossed my fingers and hoped that we'd get him and we did." _ Steelers offensive line coach Adrian Klemm.
"There are a lot of guys that are pushers and shovers, this guy's a puncher." _ Klemm.
WHERE HE FITS: The Steelers have an opening at center in the wake of Maurkice Pouncey's retirement. B.J.Finney and J.C. Hassenauer are two veterans on the roster who have experience at the position.
