Steelers Likely To Draft A Running Back In Rounds 2-4: "Looking For A 1A Or 1B" to Join Jaylen Warren

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of needs they have to address in the 2025 NFL Draft. The most prominent needs include wide receiver and defensive line. However, one of their most overlooked needs is running back. Perhaps that's because it's been devalued in recent years. You only have to look at the most recent contract negotiations with Saquon Barkley. The Philadelphia Eagles owe him a debt of gratitude for helping them make the Super Bowl, and yet he makes roughly a third of what wide receiver AJ Brown does. 

The Steelers have always favored a strong running game. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been clear about his vision of winning with smashmouth football. However, when they had the opportunity to extend running back Najee Harris' contract in 2024 by exercising the fifth-year option, they declined it. Harris isn't putting up Barkley statistics, but has been a consistent contributor with four 1,000+ yard seasons. 

Pittsburgh seems to blame Harris entirely instead of improving their offensive line or getting wide receivers who can help spread the field. While Harris isn't gone yet, the Steelers could still offer him a new contract, it seems unlikely. That led the crew on The Fan's Morning Show to ask Ray Fittipaldo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette if he thinks they will select a running back to replace him in the top three rounds of the upcoming draft. 

"Yes, I would say in the top three or four," explained Fittipaldo. "[Ashton] Jeanty is going to go in the first round. We all know that. But rounds two through four, it's really deep. I think that's where you get your running back this year. They like Jaylen Warren, I think they believe Jaylen Warren can be a 1A, I think they are looking for a 1A or a 1B for the future. I think you get that guy second, third, maybe even fourth round."

Jaylen Warren was an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022 when they brought him in to back up Harris. The two have worked in tandem for the past few seasons. They were meant to help take some of the pressure off the quarterback, but as former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis pointed out, many offensive playmakers let him down. The offensive line wasn't the only group that struggled, and Bettis noted that it was unfair to expect Russell Wilson to carry the team.  

Ashton Jeanty from Boise State is expected to go very early. However, many excellent options exist, such as Cameron Skattebo from Arizona State,  Omarion Hampton from North Carolina, and Dylan Sampson from Tennessee. 

Steelers Drafting Jalen Milroe Isn't The Immediate Answer

Recent scouting reports state the Steelers love Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. However, Fittipaldo pointed out that if they were to draft him, it would be in a later round. He said he would not be the backup, but instead "redshirted" by the Steelers to allow him time to develop. 

That contradicts the previous wild report from radio host Andrew Fillipponi, which stated that they view him as a first-round talent. While Art Rooney II might have indicated the franchise didn't really learn anything from drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round in 2022, Fittipaldo said he thinks they learned not to reach for a quarterback who needs significant development time before starting. He feels that lesson will likely make them pause before selecting Milroe with the 21st overall pick. 

Fittipaldo said that Milroe might be someone they consider in a later round, perhaps the third, to have as their third-string quarterback. That would make sense, especially behind Justin Fields. Rooney said the team hopes to retain Fields or Wilson and ideally would like to build a quarterback room full of players with similar skill sets.

Do you think the Steelers will draft a running back? Tell us what you think below! 

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