The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t drafted a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft for a while. In fact, it has been 13 years since they selected Rashard Mendenhall with the 23rd pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. Alabama RB Najee Harris could be the player to break the trend, though. Pro Football Network Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider Tony Pauline is hearing that the team is interested in Harris.
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Could the Steelers draft Najee Harris in the first round?
On the April 21 Draft Insiders show, Pauline made it clear that the Steelers are looking to upgrade their running game.
“It seems that the No. 1 player they are after is Najee Harris. They need a running back. I said last year they made a mistake passing on J.K. Dobbins because now, rather than handing the ball off to J.K. Dobbins, they’re going to have to stop him running over them with the Baltimore Ravens. (Harris) is a perfect fit. He fits the Steelers’ identity. He’s a three-down back. They have a gaping need at the running back position. So I think and I have been told that he is the guy they’ve been keying on.”
The Steelers have had success with lesser investments at running back in the past, notably Le’Veon Bell, but it’s a different offense than it was. The regression of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has allowed opponents to focus more effort on stopping the run. Furthermore, the team’s run blocking has notably worsened since legendary offensive line coach Mike Munchak departed for the Denver Broncos. The days of being able to plug in players like DeAngelo Williams and expect a high level of production are gone.
The departure of left tackle Alejandro Villanueva and center Maurkice Pouncey’s retirement has left holes on the offensive line. A player such as Alabama’s Landon Dickerson could start in several spots, but Pauline has heard that some teams have serious concerns over his injury history. General manager Kevin Colbert could believe that finding an elite talent to play running back is the quickest way to revitalize the running game.
What if the Steelers don’t take Harris?
As Pauline mentions, the Steelers need to find an upgrade at running back. James Conner has been their lead back for the past three seasons, but injuries made him difficult to rely on. His contract expired in the offseason, and the team opted not to re-sign him. Conner recently signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland Jr., fourth-round draft picks in 2019 and 2020, respectively, remain on the roster. Both players have shown promise, but neither looks as if they should be counted on as the team’s primary option. The signing of Kalen Ballage, who had a career revival of sorts with the Los Angeles Chargers last season, is an interesting depth move but shouldn’t be viewed as more than that.
It’s no guarantee that Harris is still on the board when the Steelers pick, though. Pauline has been hearing that both the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, who pick before the Steelers, are high on Harris, though at this time Pauline does not expect the Jets to select Harris and feels the Dolphins are moving away from the running back. If the Steelers don’t take Harris, there are still options elsewhere in the draft, though. Players such as Javonte Williams and Travis Etienne are also expected to be in the conversation for teams in the first round.
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