With the Senior Bowl in the rearview mirror, we've reached the second big offseason event on the football calendar: the NFL Scouting Combine. Before players weigh in or take the field for drills and workouts, they are busy scheduling meetings with NFL teams... and the Steelers already have their hands full.
It's no secret which positions the Steelers will look to target in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ahead of free agency, Pittsburgh has significant roster holes at defensive line, wide receiver, cornerback, and even quarterback.
But on February 25, Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network confirms that the Steelers have a formal meeting with a first-round running back prospect.
Pittsburgh is reportedly scheduled to meet with Boise State star RB Ashton Jeanty. They are one of nine NFL teams who currently have a formal meeting scheduled with the 2025 draft's top running back.
Pittsburgh Steelers could tear up NFL Draft plans for Ashton Jeanty
When you don't weigh positional value, Ashton Jeanty is undeniably one of the top players in the 2025 draft class. The Boise State star and record-breaking running back ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 14 games this season—marking his second straight season of leading the nation in rushing yards.
Jeanty has an elite blend of traits and the upside to be an All-Pro-level running back at the next level. But in the same breath, spending a formal meeting on one of the top prospects in the class feels like a waste of time.
In Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft, the highly esteemed draft expert has Jeanty going to the Raiders with the 6th overall pick in the draft. Even if Jeanty somehow made it past the first 20 teams in the draft, the Steelers would have to decide if taking Jeanty at the cost of ignoring greater needs at more important positions is worth it.
The last time the Steelers took a running back in the first round proved to be a bad decision. Though Najee Harris was a respectable player, the team's rushing attack never produced above-average efficiency numbers (four straight 1,000-yard seasons) and Harris' production came strictly off the volume.
This is just another testament among hundreds that running backs are products of their scheme and the offensive line. Even the great Saquon Barkley had poor efficiency numbers for four straight seasons on the Giants before signing with the Eagles in 2024.
Let's be clear: Ashton Jeanty is a significantly better prospect than Najee Harris entering the NFL. But the philosophy is still backward.
In most cases, the only teams who should be taking running backs in the middle of the first round are those who don't have glaring roster needs and are in the thick of a Super Bowl window. Unfortunately, the Steelers have several significant needs and are nowhere near ready to compete for a championship. Heck, they are still trying to snap an eight-year drought without a playoff win.
Regardless, if Jeanty were to make his way to the 21st overall pick this year, he could force the Steelers to tear up their draft plans. Pittsburgh's formal meeting with the star running back proves there is interest on their part.