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Pittsburgh Steelers post-draft 53-man roster prediction

By Edward Hunt

Robert Spillane #49 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Robert Spillane #49 of the Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Steelers 16-10. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Steelers 16-10. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Running Backs/Fullbacks (5)

  1. James Conner
  2. Benny Snell Jr.
  3. Anthony McFarland
  4. Jaylen Samuels
  5. Derek Watt

The Elephant in the room is whether James Conner will be healthy and ready to carry the load for the Steelers in 2020. He spent part of 2019 on the sidelines with injuries. He also had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma which could shorten his career.

I imagine whatever James Conner can’t carry, Benny Snell Jr. will. Snell had a good rookie season and has the body type and talent to be the Steeler’s main ballcarrier if Conner can’t be. I think even if Conner is healthy, it still would help if Snell ran the ball to take the load off of Conner some.

The Steelers drafted Anthony MacFarland and this should be an interesting pick. There are concerns about him off the field. The Steelers seem to really like the way he runs the ball on the field and you have to think Mike Tomlin knows a lot about him with Dino Tomlin on the Maryland team.

I think the Steelers will keep four running backs this year and the fourth spot will go a guy who can play special teams. I imagine that Jaylen Samuels can be on their special teams unit and they like the versatility that he brings on offense.

The Steelers also changed their fullback this year. Usually, the guy is Roosevelt Nix, but I think injuries caught up to him and now the Steelers have a guy who can block and play special teams in Derek Watt. He is also the brother of Steelers outside linebacker, TJ Watt.

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