Who would have thought that, in 2024, Martavis Bryant would be on an NFL roster and JuJu Smith-Schuster wouldn't be? As some former Pittsburgh Steelers players have been given a second chance in the NFL, others (like wide receiver James Washington) have been thrown back on the pile.
Joining Martavis on the shortlist of surprise ex-Steelers on an NFL roster is Anthony McFarland. The Maryland product was Pittsburgh's fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite routinely busting off big plays in the preseason, Mike Tomlin couldn't find a way to make McFarland work and he was out of a job late in the 2023 season.
After a stint with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL, McFarland landed back on his feet in the NFL -- this time with the Miami Dolphins. With rookie running back Jaylen Wright banged up with an undisclosed injury, the Dolphins inked a deal with McFarland, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported.
The #Dolphins are signing former #Steelers RB Anthony McFarland Jr., per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 19, 2024
Since taking over as head coach of the Dolphins in 2022, Mike McDaniel has valued one trait in his skill players more than any other: speed.
Anthony McFarland possesses the speed Mike McDaniel covets
McFarland is going to fit right in.
The Dolphins unquestionably have the fastest skill players in the NFL. This group is headlined by wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle... but they are far from the only players in Miami who can hit paydirt from anywhere on the field.
Coming out of college, running back Raheem Mostert clocked a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash. Meanwhile, RB Devon Achane ran a 4.32 at the 2023 NFL Combine while Jaylen Wright ran a 4.38 before being selected by the Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
McFarland, who ran a 4.44 at the 2020 NFL Combine, often looks even faster than his clocked speed would indicate when he hits the open field. Now he's finally on a team that knows how to put speed to good use.
Making the team won't be easy, and the former Steelers running back isn't guaranteed to have a spot on the Dolphins' roster a few weeks from now. But it's not hard to see why there is interest on the part of Mike McDaniel. If another Miami running back suffers an injury, McFarland has the skill set to work as part of a RB committee for the Dolphins.
Last year, the Dolphins experimented with another ex-Steelers skill player. In a risk-free move trade with the Bears, McDaniel acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool. However, the 2020 second-round pick made minimal impact on offense.
Being a late-summer addition, Anthony McFarland has a major uphill battle and would likely have to beat out a proven player like Jeff Wilson Jr. to earn the final running back job on the team. Still, this is the most Mike McDaniel-like signing the Dolphins could have made.