Given that their running back room is currently comprised of Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland, and free agent signee Kalen Ballage, we expected that the Steelers would be on the lookout for running back help in the draft. And as Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes, GM Kevin Colbert will indeed select a collegiate running back, and he will most likely do so in the first round.
Running back is no longer seen as a position that must be filled with a first-round draft choice, unless the prospect in question is an obvious Pro Bowl talent. But while the Steelers’ league-worst rushing total of 1,351 yards in 2020 could be at least partially explained by the pass-heavy offense quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was operating, the team wasn’t effective when it did choose to run the ball. Pittsburgh’s 3.6 YPC average was also the worst mark in the NFL, so it’s clear that a major upgrade is in order.
Three-year starter James Conner recently signed with the Cardinals, and while he received a modest contract from Arizona, the Steelers — who are revamping their rushing attack under new OC Matt Canada and new OL coach Adrian Klemm — simply wanted to go in a different direction. Plus, Conner is not necessarily the explosive player that Pittsburgh believes it can land in the draft.
With the No. 24 overall selection, the Steelers should have a shot at at least one of the top two RBs in this year’s draft: Alabama’s Najee Harris and Clemson’s Travis Etienne. Harris is a powerful runner who is just as effective between the tackles as he is on the perimeter, and he has developed into a reliable receiver over the course of his collegiate career. Etienne, meanwhile, is a threat to break off a big play whenever he touches the ball, and he would make an excellent chess piece for Canada as he seeks to exploit favorable matchups against opposing defenses.
Dulac says that if the Steelers pass on an RB in the first round, they will certainly grab one in the second. Top Day 2 prospects include UNC’s Javonte Williams — who probably won’t fall to Pittsburgh’s second-round choice at No. 55 overall — fellow Tar Heel Michael Carter, and Ohio State’s Trey Sermon.
Hmmmmm….I’m suspecting some gamesmanship going on here. What’s the purpose of announcing this other than to possibly other teams from their true intentions. We’ll see.
I mean I hear you, but these games shouldn’t be working on the other nfl level gm’s.
Its not much of a secret to begin with.
They just lost james conner to the cardinals.
Doubt the steelers pull a packers and draft Roethlisbergers successor in the first round this year. Which leaves RB as a strong possibility.
They didn’t lose him, they let him go. He signed for $2M and they didn’t even offer him a contract.
Technically it’s not pulling a Packers when Ben is older then Rodgers and coming off major elbow surgery. And is at most 2 years till retirement. Rodgers is 4 more years on his contract and a couple years younger. Not even close to the same situation. Now when they took Mason Rudolph a couple years ago. If they traded up to get a QB in round 1 then, u could call it a Green Bay move.
I know Steelers fan won’t like this, but they need to trade back and get ready for life w/ Ben. Dec & Jan showed a team w/ lots of issues. OL, running game, DB’s play all come to mind.
I understand why they let Ben redo his c contract. They are trying to avoid a P Manning or TB scenario where he plays elsewhere. Ben is a Steeler for life.
I agree 100%. I have been a fan since the 70’s, but clearly the 2 months of this past season indicate it is time to prepare for a new QB to take the helm.
Trading back could let them reload their oline and hopefully find some help in the secondary.
w/ = with
w/o = without
The Steelers need offensive line help.
Even Franco in his prime would’ve been pedestrian behind that 2020 O-line.
I had no idea that Dulac and Colbert were such best buds that Kevin would confide in him so intimately.
I take this news and all other pre-draft news with a healthy dose of salt.
I’ve had them penciled in for RB in the first round all off-season. Harris is the perfect choice. Reminds me of Le’Veon Bell but quicker. I’m just not so sure he gets to 24 and there’s too many needs to afford a move up. As much as I like Etienne I don’t think he is worth the 24th. I think they’re in a bad spot to fill a need and get good value unless they go OL.
They are set at LG, RG, and, unless they think Banner can start on the left, RT.
That leaves C and LT. Unless they are unphased by Dickerson’s 7 knee surgeries, there isn’t a C with a slam dunk 1st Rd grade. So what LT do you see being on the board at that point that is ”good value” compared to the #1 RB?
Harris would be a slam dunk pick IMO. Etienne is a nice back but I do not believe he has the 3-down 20+ carry dual threat appeal that Najee has. Still would be a good selection and would add a much needed spark to that offense. 24 is a tad rich in my opinion but he is clearly the number 2 back. He and Javonte are closer to each other than Etienne and Najee though. I wouldn’t hate the Etienne pick if I were a Steeler fan unless Najee was available. In terms of OL, the best true LT that should/might be available IMO is Texas’ Sam Cosmi. Darrisaw will be gone. Jenkins to me is a RT. The other tackles I have as either long gone or second round talents. I am a big believer in Cosmi’s talent. Arms are a tad shorter than you’d like is a top LT prospect but the size, strength, feet, and mobility are there.
Also, I agree that if they are not scared off by the injury history (I am), Dickerson’s talent is worthy of 24. Jenkins’ is as well but again, probably best suited to stay on the right side. I’ve seen Cosmi projected by some as a mid/late 2nd but I don’t really understand that. To me he is the clear 4th tackle particularly if you’re looking for a LT.
Not going to lie I misread your comments on Harris somehow.
I actually am usually against taking a RB in the 1st, but I think I’d rather they take a RB than a RT, unless they think the RT is an All Pro caliber player.
I’d love a LT, I just don’t know that I see one worth taking being there at 24. Depends how they feel about Cosmi and Eich.
Doubtful.
As a Steelers fan this draft is the most interesting in a long time simply because they have way more positions of need than usual. I’d be happy with them taking literally anybody except a wide receiver in the first round. That said I would love to see them go with an O-lineman in the first round and trade up early in the second to take Travis Etienne if he’s still available. Really beefs up the running game and helps protect Ben, then focus on filling other positions later in the draft.
They draft Najee Harris and put a #32 on him…
Pretty sure the Steelers can fix all their problems by asking the Pirates what they would do…and then doing the exact opposite.
Why on earth would you not only take a RB in the top 2 rounds but also announce it?
Pittsburgh is good organization and if they are missing a RB, why not take the best one late in 1st round. If they don’t want to waste a 1st rounder on him, then they will trade back to pick up more picks and draft one in the 2nd round. Over the past few years, the 2nd round seems to be where the run on RB’s start and they get selected all the way through the 3rd round and then it starts up again in the 6th and 7th rounds. For some reason, 4th and 5th rounds are OL, S, DL now.
Take Najee Harris in the first round then take OT in the second. Big Ben isn’t a long term answer and can’t be expected to make 50 throws a game. Harris would be a huge addition and then upgrade the line in order to help Harris and protected for the future QB
Yea i don’t see Ben lasting to much longer. Look at the other teams in the division, all with young QBs. Steelers definitely need one soon especially if they plan to throw as much as they did last year
Way I see it Ben has to play next year well and then the year after he can be a bridge QB. Isn’t any good QBs in the next draft.
That means in 2 years time your going to have to rebuild around a new QB and he will be coming into an offence which currently has nothing promising really. Get Harris then get some help on the OL. Give Ben a real chance for a year or two then a new kid can come in a land take over with a pro bowl RB and decent line
I mean i guess they need one now with Connor gone. Not sure they got much of talent at that postion currently
1. Don’t draft for need at 24. Always take the best player. If you don’t value anyone available at 24, trade down.
2. Don’t draft a RB in the 1st round. Pittsburg has a long history of finding productive skill position players outside the 1st round. Stay with that.
3. Don’t expect anyone to believe you are sincerely announcing your intentions in the draft. No one does that.
While I take this with a grain of salt given the disinformation teams put out at this point, I’m reminded of the 2007 draft. Tomlin had made it clear that he really wanted Darrell Revis and it became so well known that was going to be the pick that the Jets traded for the pick immediately in front of the Steelers. I really don’t want to repeat that scenario.
If the tackles are gone in the first round, I believe the Steelers will go RB in the 1st, C in the second (probably trading up), and I’d guess WR in the 3rd (can’t help it and probably best value at that point). Then they will resign Villanueva for a year to hold down LT. That’s not ideal, but there are worse scenarios.
They need need need an o-lineman first 2 rounds