The Pittsburgh Steelers went the expected route during the 2025 NFL Draft. They stood pat at pick 21 and selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon out of Oregon to begin the rebuild of their line. And if you are in tune with Steelers Nation, there was much rejoicing. But the Steelers nearly made a devastating decision to take a running back in Round 1.
While a small portion of the fanbase wanted a quarterback (considering how the class dropped, that would have been a mistake), most everyone appreciated the investment in some trench play. It was a needed selection for a team without much success up front.
However, if you listen to Gerry Dulac's recent stint on the Rich Eisen show, the team almost committed yet another cardinal sin in the first round.
Dulac came out and said that had the team not gone defensive line in the first round, the plan would have been to take another first-round running back. Omarion Hampton and TreVeyon Henderson were the two names specifically dropped as the other two first-round targets.
The Pittsburgh Steelers avoided certain disaster by passing on a running back in Round 1 of the NFL Draft
While we saw a small renaissance period for the running back room last year, it still doesn’t change the fact that this position isn’t the top priority for a rebuilding team. Sure, if you are a team like the Eagles or Ravens, adding a dynamic running back can get you over the hill. If you are floundering with other needs, though, taking a running back early is a waste of a pick.
Just look at Najee Harris from a few years back. This team was not in a position to take a running back early, given their glut of other needs, and Harris never moved the needle for the offense. He stuck around for four mediocre years before signing with the Chargers this offseason.
READ MORE: Steelers’ 2025 UDFA class ranked (and one name jumps off the list)
Had the Steelers drafted a running back this year in the first, it would have been a repeat of their previous issue. More than likely, a new running back would have helped the offense, but it wouldn’t move the needle.
While hindsight can seem unfair, this team landed a good running back in the third round. Who was left at the defensive line in the third round? No one nearly as good as Harmon, as teams added to their lines in the middle rounds.
Thankfully, this didn’t come to fruition, but had Harmon been off the board, the team may have scrambled and made a massive mistake. Running backs are easy to replace, and while an elite one can set a team apart, the Steelers aren’t there yet. They made the right choice, but it seems like Pittsburgh was close to making a pivotal mistake.