The Pittsburgh Steelers have no shortage of roster needs entering the 2025 offseason, but one area they must improve is the running back position. Najee Harris was blessed with terrific health over his first four NFL seasons, but the efficiency simply wasn't there (as evidenced by his 3.9 yards per carry career average).
Now the Steelers are expected to move on from Harris in free agency while taking advantage of a loading running back class in the 2025 NFL Draft. Early in the pre-draft process, fans have already had their eye on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty is widely considered the top running back in this year's class and one of the best RB prospects to come out in years. The phenomenal workhorse back racked up 4,769 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns over three college seasons and many will peg him as one of the best overall prospects in the 2025 draft—regardless of position.
But as good as he is, there was a scenario where Jeanty could have fallen to the 21st pick where the Steelers would have had a shot to draft him. Unfortunately, the latest move by the Chicago Bears (of all teams) makes a Jeanty slip in the NFL Draft unlikely.
Chicago Bears likely to take Ashton Jeanty in NFL Draft before Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance
Entering the final week before the start of the 2025 free agency period, the Chicago Bears had a plethora of needs on their offensive line. Teven Jenkins was an unrestricted free agent with an injury history who was set to depart this offseason, and the Bears had needs all over their offensive line.
But Chicago wasn't about to wait until the NFL Draft to address these needs.
In back-to-back days, the Bears traded for offensive guard Jonah Jackson, before striking a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs for All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thuney. Prior to this, I had Chicago taking an offensive lineman with the 10th overall pick in my post-NFL Combine mock draft. This resulted in Jeanty slipping to the Steelers at pick 21.
Now the Bears' aggressiveness will allow them to go in a different direction on draft day. That direction is likely to be with Ashton Jeanty.
When Ben Johnson Detroit was the offensive coordinator, the Lions spent the 12th overall pick on running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the 2023 draft. Now Johnson, the new head coach of the Bears, could do the same in Chicago with Jeanty.
Johnson knows he needs an explosive running back to maximize the potential of his offense and keep opposing defenses on their heels. Now that the Bears fixed a few glaring holes on the offensive line, you can probably pencil in Jeanty to Chicago in Round 1.
This means that the remarkable running back prospect won't come close to falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st overall pick this year. Before the Bears made these moves, it was easy to mock a scenario in which Jeanty slipped in the draft, as teams picking between 11-20 had glaring needs and bigger priorities.
Now if Ashton Jeanty falls past the Las Vegas Raiders with the 6th pick, you can almost bet he won't make it past the Bears at pick 10.
Taking a running back in the first round when you have other massive needs is a questionable philosophy anyway for a team like Pittsburgh, but the Steelers running game has been stagnant for so long. You can bet fans will let out a sigh when Jeanty's name is called early in the 2025 NFL Draft.