Roster Breakdown: Running Backs

Here is a look at Running Backs and Fullback on the Steelers roster. I will look at each of their roster statuses as I did with the previous post of this roster breakdown series.

Roster Locks

James Conner is a lock to make the roster as he is the team’s primary running back. He will be better aided by the help of Benny Snell Jr. and Jaylen Samuels. He is coming off a Pro Bowl season and if he stays healthy, he should be in line for another Pro Bowl. Conner is entering the third-year of a four year deal and so I would imagine that this is like a contract year for him. The Steelers usually like to extend running backs with a year left on their contract. With another good year, Conner should be in line for a contract extension.

The Steelers drafted Benny Snell Jr. in the four round and that is a good deal for the running back. The Steelers like his hard-nosed running style and he has good bloodlines with his dad being a football star. I think Snell is a lock as he becomes the #2 back in Pittsburgh. This will be good for the Steelers as they will be able to sub James Conner out. They also now have an insurance policy if James Conner were to get hurt as well.

Roosevelt Nix is a valuable part of the Steelers roster. He is a very good special teams player and a proficient fullback. He is the type of player who will crack skulls to help his team. He is currently the only true fullback on the roster and so it appears they will carry him again. He is currently heading into the second year of a four-year deal.

On the Inside Looking Out

Jaylen Samuels is looking like a player who will make the roster, but there are no guarantees. He is a good special teams player and can wear a lot of hats on the offense. The Steelers must appreciate his ability to catch out of the backfield and I bet they want to get him doing more of that this year. If I had to guess, I would say he will be the number three back and that is good from a depth standpoint because he played well as a number two back down the stretch.

On the Outside Looking In

Trey Edmunds is a player to not forget about in the roster picture. He is the brother of Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds and thus makes him the brother of another first-round pick in the NFL, Tremaine Edmunds. Although he is a lesser known brother, he is a good special teams player and that is why he could be kept on the roster. However, he doesn’t provide as much as a runner; so, maybe he is a better fit on the practice squad. This is a player that has been on the Steelers roster in the past; so, keep an eye on him in training camp.

Battling for a Practice Squad Job

Travon McMillan was an undrafted free agent signed out of Colorado. This is a player that transferred from Virginia Tech. He does show the ability to catch out the backfield and break tackles on tape. The problems I see in his game are ball security issues, speed issues and blocking issues.

Ralph Webb is a guy who has been in an NFL training camp. He was on the Patriots 90 man roster in 2018. He didn’t stick and now he gets another shot with the Steelers. I think the Steelers will keep three running backs and so it is a four-horse race for the practice squad running back job. Webb is a bit undersized for what the Steelers like in running backs.

Malik Williams is also competing for a job on the Steelers practice squad. He was undrafted out of Louisville in 2018 and signed with the Falcons. He did not make the 53 man roster as he was waived injured by the Falcons. He will get his second shot with the Steelers. He is a guy with good size for a running back.