Whereas Unlikely, Beat Author Will not Rule Out Chance Of Steelers Taking First Spherical Working Again

With mock draft season in full swing, reporters and draft analysts have been attempting their hand at who the Steelers would possibly decide this season. An apparent want the workforce wants to deal with is at working again after Najee Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. In a current episode of the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette Sports activities Mock Draft Tracker podcast, Ray Fittipaldo was requested in regards to the probability of the Steelers filling that want with Omarion Hampton from the College of North Carolina.

“Working again is kinda like quarterback,” Fittipaldo mentioned. “You’ve an enormous gap in your roster there and I wouldn’t rule it out. I don’t assume it’s seemingly that you just take Hampton at 21 and he’s not going to slide into the third spherical, in order that’s the place you must take him.”

Hampton is extensively considered the second-best working again within the NFL Draft this yr, solely behind Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty. He’s received good dimension, as he measured in at 5116 and 221 kilos on the 2025 NFL Mix. Regardless of his dimension, he’s adept at making defenders miss. Outdoors of working a 4.46 within the 40-yard sprint, he compelled 73 missed tackles and averaged 4.35 yards after contact. Throw all of it collectively and you’ve got a again that very properly may go within the first spherical.

With Jaylen Warren and newly-acquired Kenneth Gainwell on their roster, it does look like working again could be decrease on their draft board, no less than within the first spherical. The Steelers need assistance alongside the defensive position, within the secondary, at receiver, and, in fact, at quarterback. Attempting to deal with all of those wants with a depleted struggle chest following the DK Metcalf commerce makes this exceedingly tough.

Moreover, there could possibly be some consumers beware going right here as properly. Don’t overlook the Steelers chosen Harris within the first spherical of the 2021 NFL Draft. To not say Harris wasn’t productive, however he wasn’t the caliber of working again that normally goes within the first spherical. Fittipaldo feels equally, saying that he doesn’t desire a repeat the place the workforce reaches for a necessity.

“A lot of the identical method I’m with quarterback this yr, too quickly after Kenny Pickett. In all probability too quickly after Najee Harris too. This can be a deep working again class, go get your working again within the third, fourth spherical,” mentioned Fittipaldo.

His final level could also be an important: it is a actually good working again class. Furthermore, it appears the Steelers know that spending time and interviewing a number of of the blokes anticipated to go after spherical one.

In the long run, if the Steelers do find yourself selecting Omarion Hampton, they’ll add an distinctive participant that can certainly enhance the offense, but additionally could also be overlooking different extra urgent wants.