Steelers Rookie RB Challenges Minkah Fitzpatrick In 1-on-1s, And It Goes As Expected

You've got to love confidence, and Pittsburgh Steelers rookie undrafted free agent Alfonzo Graham seemingly has it. It started with the team inviting him to their rookie minicamp just a few weeks ago. After the tryout, the team felt good enough about Graham to sign him to a contract. Pittsburgh signed the running back just a few weeks ago, and he's already making headlines.

In his weekly chat on Thursday, team insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette boldly stated that Graham is looking like this year's version of Jaylen Warren. Najee Harris and Warren have the top two spots locked in at running back, but after that, it's up for grabs. Veteran Anthony McFarland Jr. and 2022 training camp standout Master Teague seemed to have the inside track on the job just a few weeks ago.

Since then, Teague has been released and Graham has made a name for himself. At this point, he seems to be a legitimate option for that No. 3 spot. On Thursday, the rookie felt confident enough to challenge star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in one-on-one drills, as captured by Amanda Godsey of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. As expected, things didn't go particularly well for the rookie running back.

Not only is he entering his first NFL season, but Graham isn't exactly the biggest tailback. He stands at 5'9", while weighing in at 180 pounds according to Steelers.com. In comparison, Fitzpatrick is 27 pounds bigger and four inches taller. Additionally, he's a seasoned veteran and has had his fair shares of thumping hits in the NFL. In his impressive five-year career, Fitzpatrick has made a total of 448 tackles.

MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

Alfonzo Graham ran for eight touchdowns and topped the 100-yard mark in five games in his final season with Morgan State.

Graham wasn't done there either. While he got blown up on the play, he stated his case, as he responded to Godsey in a tweet that read: 

"Mink is the real deal! I'm just tryna be the best like him, iron sharpen iron #respect," Graham tweeted in response to the picture.

Again, you've got to love confidence and fearlessness, especially from a guy fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster. It's how you establish a name for yourself, and he's already done so. It's how a guy like fellow running back Jaylen Warren was able to make the team and become the primary backup RB in 2022. As Dulac mentioned in his chat on Thursday, Graham is already drawing comparisons to Warren.

In other words, the path to the roster is there for Graham. Warren showed him that path as recently as last year. Now, the team may only carry three running backs, so the path may be quite slim. That would essentially just leave one spot remaining for Graham, McFarland, or someone else that proves themselves. In 2022, his final season at Morgan State, Graham broke out in a big way.

In just 11 games, he ran the ball 196 times for 1,150 yards and eight touchdowns. In his two seasons with Morgan State, he averaged 6.6 yards per carry and also racked up 31 catches for 233 receiving yards. He still has a long way to go before making the Steelers roster, but the initial signs are encouraging. While he's impressed at OTAs, his next steps will be training camp and then the preseason.

Do you think Graham will win the RB3 job? Do you think he has to provide an impact on special teams in order to make the roster? What kind of chance do you give McFarland on winning the job? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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