The Steelers season is officially over, and with the offseason now the focus of this team, I wanted to take some time to break down this team position by position. This will be both a primer for who will stay or go in the offseason as well as who could be added. This series will go position by position as we head toward the new league year.
We continue with the running back room, and it proved to be a strength of this team down the stretch. Had it not been for the backs, this team likely have collapsed in the final stretch of games and missed the playoffs. That said, there are some major question marks in this room ahead of the 2024 offseason.
Steelers RB room assessment
The Steelers running back room had to be one of the biggest strengths on paper heading into the season. The entire offseason was schemed around the duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren taking over games. The offensive line was built up and physical receiving weapons were brought in to help aid in this grinding style.
The early results weren’t great. The line was below expectations once again early on, and defenses quickly realized that the passing game was a non-threat. This meant stacked boxes and mediocre games as the offense tried to gel.
Once things got on track though, the offense lived through the ground game. Warren kickstarted things. He proved to be a steady presence for the offense and a big play threat. He found ways to win even when Harris faltered.
Once the line got better and things were less obvious, Harris also found some ways to win. He busted off a couple of big runs, but he thrived as a grinding player. Progressively wearing out the opposing defense. Both he and Warren had good seasons, and both compiled over 1000 total yards respectively.
The rest of the running back room failed to record a carry. Anthony McFarland seemed poised for a limited role in the preseason with some designed plays, but injuries derailed his season and he was eventually demoted to the practice squad. Godwin Igwebuike failed to log an offensive snap and was only used on special teams.
Steelers in-house RB options
The Steelers are in a really good spot with running backs heading into the offseason. Both Harris and Warren are under contract for at least next season, and there is a real chance both are around longer than that.
Harris is up for his fifth-year option. Given his hot stretch of play in the latter portion of the season. Warren will be a restricted free agent a year from now, meaning the team will maintain a lot of control, and I even think he could be a sleeper extension candidate in the offseason.
Godwin Igwebuike is a pending free agent (although one has to think that he could easily be retained) and the team only signed Aaron Shampklin to a reserve deal. There is a clear hole at that third spot that the team would do well to fill. No, the role won’t be huge, but the team could get back a few carries a game if they are unique enough.
There is a real chance that no significant names are added to this roster. That said, considering the team seemingly had some sort of plan for McFarland initially, I like the idea of getting a faster back to complement this group. With the running game the focus of the offense, having a capable third back could be an underrated move.
Steelers free agent RB options
Free agency is set to be filled with a whos-who of running backs from the league. Top names like Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard highlight a seemingly deep group this offseason. Even if a few of these names ink new deals, there will be some elite talent available in free agency.
The Steelers won’t be in that market given their pair of solid runners. You can’t afford to spend top money on a third back, and even the second wave of names like Devin Singletary and D’Andre Swift will likely cost too much to justify in that third role.
There are a handful of names that I think do make sense. Matt Breida has been my sleeper back to sign. He will be cheap given his age and lack of sustained success as a starter, but he has elite speed still and would be a good compliment to the more power-oriented backs in Pittsburgh.
Boston Scott is another interesting fit for this offense. He has carved out a career as a third back and change of pace option. He doesn’t do well when given a big workload, but he can provide a spark in limited usage. Chase Edmunds could also fill in as a speedy, change of pace back for this team.
No, the Steelers shouldn’t be in the market for a big-name running back as a free agent, but there are a handful of cheap veterans that would work well in this room. I think it would be a prudent move to find someone with some speed who is willing to play on a minimum deal.
Steelers RB options in the draft
While you should never rule out drafting any position, especially once the third day of the draft comes around, it seems like a stretch for the Steelers to take a running back in this draft class. While not a top-heavy group, some interesting fits should be effective at the pro level.
That said, it is hard to justify using a pick on a third running back. If the team went this route, finding a freaky back with speed has to be the priority. This offense doesn’t need another plodder given the current makeup of the backfield.
Jaylen Wright and Jawhar Jordan are both smaller framed backs who lack the traditional size the Steelers like in a running back. What they do have is speed. Their smaller frames won’t make them traditional bell cows, but they can make the most out of just a few carries.
A really interesting fit would be Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen. He has some freaky size and is expected to test as an elite athlete. He has deceptively good hands in the passing game as well. Assuming he makes it to day three, he could be a fun addition to the backfield and keep the rushing game a strength even if an injury were to occur.
What could change the Steelers plans is if they decide not to pick up the contract on Harris in the offseason. You could see a bigger focus on getting a back of the future on the roster. That said, there typically isn’t a huge learning curve for backs, so it seems like a day-three pick at best.
No matter if a back is drafted, I would heavily add bodies from the undrafted pool of talent. No, you likely won’t get a complete back, but you can find some bit-pieces for this offense. Whoever they do add, getting a player with speed will be key for the offense this offseason.
What I would do at RB for Steelers
Frankly, there aren’t any major moves this team has to make at the running back position this offseason. While I would like to see a more defined third option that can relieve the co-starters, that name isn’t going to move the needle much. More than likely, it is a lowly rookie or cheap veteran who occupies that role.
I will say that I will have my eye on Allen as a midround pick. He is expected to be one of the best athletes at running back with the ability to play the power game and burst off big gains. Fumbles are an issue and will likely keep him down in the draft, but he could be a freak to look to add.
I will say that I’m not overly keen on giving Harris his fifth-year option. I haven’t been impressed with him as a whole and think that locking up money in a declining asset like a running back is a bad choice. That said, his fifth-year option shouldn’t break the bank, so I could be convinced to give him an extra year.
What I am doing is trying to get Warren a new deal. I think you can get him locked up on a moderate deal for a good price. He gives you the flexibility to move on from Harris if that price is too much, or you ink both to fair deals and continue to have a strong one-two punch. This is my main goal for the position in 2024.
While not in need of an influx of talent, there are some concerns with the running back position to address. For starters, I’m looking to add a capable third back with some speed. From there, getting Warren a new deal seems like a slam dunk to me.