With the Pittsburgh Steelers parting with four-year starting RB Najee Harris, the running back position is a draft-day conversation. They seem destined to take one in a deep class for the position—but when? The Steelers still have Jaylen Warren and added Kenneth Gainwell in free agency.
For former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, that’s enough. Enough to get by, at least, though he didn’t outright dismiss the Steelers taking a running back in the draft. He didn’t want to see a running back taken in the early rounds, though, and only if the right one were available late.
“I wouldn’t mess around in the draft with a running back”, Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast, discussing the Steelers. “You got [Jaylen] Warren and [Kenneth Gainwell]. I mean, maybe if there’s a late-round, fifth- or sixth-round guy that you’re like, ‘Let’s just take a shot on a guy that’s got a unique skillset’. A big dude or a speed guy. But in terms of running backs, I would go with those guys and then just keep your depth with what you have. That wouldn’t be a high priority for me if I was on this team, especially with that [Gainwell] signing”.
Note that Roethlisberger doesn’t even advocate for the Steelers taking a mid to late-round running back. He merely says that if you feel the need and have the right guy, that would be the earliest time to consider it. Perhaps he really believes in Warren and Gainwell, but they still lost about 300 touches with Harris leaving.
Whether he likes it or not, the Steelers have been studying the top running backs in this draft class. They have given their time and consideration, for example, to Ashton Jeanty and Kaleb Johnson. Along the path to the draft, they have probably encountered everybody else as well.
Even with a bolstered passing game, the Steelers still want to use their running backs under Arthur Smith. Running back is one of the areas in which this 2025 NFL Draft class is deep, so it would be foolish to pass that up.
The question comes down to what the Steelers are looking for out of a running back in this draft class. Do they want somebody who can complement Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, or is the rookie the lead back?
Even the Steelers realize that in today’s game, few teams have a true workhorse running back. Consider the Ravens, who, while utilizing Derrick Henry, also rush with Lamar Jackson and Justice Hill. Saquon Barkley rushed 345 times, but on an Eagles team with 621 carries to go around.
In other words, it won’t be just Jaylen Warren, and I don’t view Kenneth Gainwell as a 1B. The Steelers should add a running back in this draft who can be a significant contributor, both this year and perhaps for the long term.
