Here are the four reasons the Steelers can wait until day three to draft a running back.
While much of the Steelers’ pre-draft speculation has been about a potential high round pick at running back, it is becoming increasingly likely that the team may opt to wait longer than most fans expect. While running back is certainly a need, there are quite a few arguments that could be made as to why the team can and should wait on taking a running back until the third day. Here are the four reasons the Steelers could wait on drafting a running back until day three of the draft.
The current stable of backs
While this may be an unpopular opinion, I think the Steelers like Benny Snell a lot as a runner. While he lacks true explosiveness, Snell is a gritty, hard-nosed runner that fits the style of back that the team prefers to use. As well, the team seems confident in him as a reserve, giving him the majority of the snaps when he was given the chance to start. While it may not be the best-case scenario, the team could opt to try to build the running game around him.
As well, the team still has Anthony McFarland Jr. on the roster, and while his rookie season wasn’t anything special, he looks like a good fit in what should be a new offense. Matt Canada was a fan of using jet sweeps and speedier backs when running offenses, and McFarland certainly fits that bill better than Snell. The team could opt to try a “lighting and thunder” approach with the two in 2021. If that is their plan, then investing in a running back early may not be in the cards.