Draft Analyst Names Six Mid-Spherical Operating Again Targets Steelers Ought to Think about

If the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t take a operating again within the first spherical, they might nonetheless be in luck. Even and not using a second-round choose, they’ll have expertise out there to them within the center rounds. They’ve already explored a few of these choices, with Bhayshul Tuten the latest identify.

Whereas they won’t discover a do-everything again later within the draft, the Steelers can actually enhance their backfield significantly. Draft analyst Nick Baumgardner shared some names Pittsburgh ought to thoughts on the subject of the center rounds later this month. Tuten was one in every of them, however there have been others as nicely.

“After the second, you’re taking a look at gamers like [RJ] Harvey, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, Georgia’s Trevor Etienne, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, Tuten, and [Jordan] James”, Baumgardner mentioned of potential Steelers operating again draft targets after the second spherical. “All of these guys are able to instantly contributing in a two-back rotation subsequent season”.

Of that checklist, the Steelers introduced in two—Tuten and Giddens—for pre-draft visits. They may have inevitably had factors of contact with the remaining through the pre-draft cycle, as nicely. As is a standard theme on this draft, the ability set these gamers supply differ.

Unsurprisingly, we have now lined this space extensively in our draft profiles, if the Steelers brass need to learn them. Right here is one on Harvey, for instance, and one other on Etienne. If you wish to examine Skattebo or maybe Giddens, you are able to do so by these hyperlinks. Likewise, to discover out extra about Tuten, and lastly James, these sources can be found.

Notably, the Steelers haven’t even drafted a operating again since taking Najee Harris within the first spherical in 2021. Earlier this offseason, they let Harris stroll in free company, setting the desk for 2022 school free agent Jaylen Warren to imagine the lead accountability. Final 12 months, in addition they signed Cordarrelle Patterson in free company. Whereas he stays beneath contract, some query for the way for much longer.

Between 2017 and 2020, the Steelers drafted operating backs fairly repeatedly. Even with Le’Veon Bell, they drafted James Conner within the third spherical in 2017. In the course of the 2019 draft, they added Benny Snell Jr., and a 12 months after that, Anthony McFarland Jr. Since Harris within the subsequent class, nevertheless, they haven’t taken one other operating again.

In different phrases, the Steelers are very a lot on account of draft a operating again, and this class is the one to want a operating again. For Baumdardner, Tuten and Harvey “could possibly be very nice matches” within the Steelers’ scheme beneath Arthur Smith. “I additionally suppose each these gamers are adequate to make defenses sincere when a workforce needs to get massive and run the ball downhill”, he wrote.