Drafting a running back may be best move to help Steelers win now

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a closing Super Bowl window as Ben Roethlisberger’s career winds down. Here’s why drafting a running back could help them win now.

I’m typically much more of a ‘big picture’ guy when it comes to the state of the Steelers franchise. When evaluating players entering the NFL Draft, I consider their age and the longevity they may be able to have with the organization. I do the same when Pittsburgh is considering handing out contract extensions.

If you know anything about my philosophy of building a football team, I’m not the biggest advocate of running backs. I believe a running back is usually only as good as the scheme and the guys up front blocking for them, and the overused phrase “a dime a dozen” pretty much sums up how I feel about running backs as a whole.

With that being said, I may not be opposed to the Steelers using their first pick in the second round on a running back this April.

There is no question that Pittsburgh is in a closing Super Bowl window. Ben Roethlisberger turns 38 years old next month, and he has just a few seasons left at best. Knowing they could go through another long drought without a franchise signal-caller, the Steelers clearly need to find ways to win now.

There are a handful of positions we can assume Pittsburgh will target early in the draft. Tight end has been frequently mocked to them, and the offense is severely lacking depth at wide receiver. In addition, Pittsburgh possesses the oldest starting offensive line unit in the league, and they have neglected to upgrade them in the draft for too long.

Still, there are very few positions in the NFL that players can step right in and make a difference than running backs. No elite RB prospects are entering the draft this year, and 6 or 7 receivers (perhaps even more) could likely be off the board by the time the Steelers pick at 49 overall.

However, there are a handful of running backs who would have excellent value in the middle of the second round. Players like J.K. Dobbins, D’Andre Swift, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Jonathan Taylor would all be well above value at this point, and each one has the potential to be a long-time starting running back at the next level.

Because of how many offensive tackles and wide receivers are being projected to go in the first two rounds, there is a good chance that one or two of these running backs are still available to the Steelers at pick 49. If that is the case, they need to strongly consider drafting one.

James Conner has proven to be an injury-prone runner who is on the last year of his rookie deal. It would be incredibly hard to justify paying him good money after missing time in all three of his seasons with the Steelers and earning modest production.

Drafting one of the top running backs in the 2020 NFL Draft would give them a player who could instantly compete for snaps with Conner, and would no doubt be the player who takes over the wheel in 2021.

The Steelers should never go into the draft with tunnel vision and get too focused on just one or two positions. However, there are at least four running backs who would possess excellent value in the second round and who could help Pittsburgh’s offense from day one.