As the Pittsburgh Steelers crumbled down the stretch of the 2024 season, it became glaringly obvious that their roster issues ran deep. After failing to fix the wide receiver room during the 2024 offseason, Mike Tomlin got next to nothing out of every receiver not named George Pickens, while Pittsburgh's putrid run defense in the playoffs suggests they could draft a defensive lineman in Round 1 this April.
However, one prominent NFL Draft expert has the Steelers going in a familiar direction with their first-round pick.
On February 18, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com released the second version of his full first-round NFL mock draft. With the 21st overall pick, Jeremiah has the Steelers going with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Jeanty is one of the most highly-regarded players in this year's draft. The record-breaking running back exploded for 2,601 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns as a true junior in 2024 while once again showing the burst and contact balance required to be one of the best running backs at the NFL level.
Sadly, Steelers fans are still living with some trauma when it comes to selecting a running back in the first round.
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert went in this direction when they turned in their card for Alabama's Najee Harris with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite Harris' raw production over the years—four straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career—they didn't see a return on their investment as Harris ranked below average in nearly every rushing efficiency metric compared to starting running backs.
Steelers need long-term roster cornerstones, not a short-term fix
There's a reason why many consider Ashton Jeanty to be a top-five player in the 2025 NFL Draft. The dynamic running back had otherworldly production in college and possesses all the traits teams desire in a running back. The problem is... he's just a running back.
The league has shown us that, in order for running back to be successful, they need to land in a good situation when it comes to scheme and blocking up front. With all of the investments the Steelers have made to their offensive line in recent years, there's a chance Jeanty could be in a position to succeed with a wonderful NFL career.
But this wouldn't solve the root of their roster problems.
The Steelers have gaping holes at wide receiver, defensive line, and cornerback that taking a running back in the first round obviously won't solve. If anything, this feels like a short-sighted decision for a team in win-now mode; not a long-term investment for the future.
With Cam Heyward set to turn 36 years old this offseason and T.J. Watt now in his 30s, there's an argument that the Steelers must find a way to win now. Unfortunately, we don't even know who the starting quarterback will be in 2025, and ignoring options in the passing game for whichever signal-caller gets the nod is a questionable decision.
I love Ashton Jeanty as a prospect. But I could stand by this selection much easier if he was going to a team that was a running back away from being a Super Bowl contender. That's not the Steelers. As good as Jeanty is, Pittsburgh must keep the long-term roster-building approach in mind in the 2026 NFL Draft.