The Pittsburgh Steelers backfield seems set heading into 2023, right? Yes, partially. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have the top two spots locked down. After a dire need of a backup RB last offseason, they were able to find a gem in Warren. The team let 2019 fourth-rounder Benny Snell Jr. walk in free agency, as he still remains out on the market. Heading to Latrobe this week, the RB3 spot in Pittsburgh is wide open.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers running back and special teams ace Benny Snell Jr. warms up prior to a 2021 regular season matchup.
Anthony McFarland Jr., Darius Hagans, and Alfonzo Graham will be the primary trio competing for that third-string position. With that, there’s been speculation of the Steelers possibly picking up a running back when roster cuts begin to happen. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor speculated this in her 53-man roster prediction article on Monday. It may be a bit early however, to detect who will be on the market a month from now.
Do Steelers need an experienced backup RB?
There will be two names to watch: Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook. The former superstar playmakers remain free agents, and based off who they end up signing with, there will be some cut candidates from those teams. It seems possible that Elliott will return to the Dallas Cowboys, while Cook has been linked to AFC East squads in the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. With that, here are some situations to watch that the Steelers could pursue to be their RB3.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
At this point, the writing seems to be on the wall for the Kansas City Chiefs tailback. A first-rounder in the 2020 NFL Draft, he fully lost his starting job to Isiah Pacheco last season. Edwards-Helaire ran for a career-low 302 rushing yards in 2022 as a result, as he played just 32% of the offense's snaps. The Chiefs also brought back pass catcher Jerick McKinnon this offseason, so there’s not much additional opportunity in their backfield. CEH could be a nice pickup for the Steelers in the fall.
Elizabeth Flores / Star Tribune
Wherever Dalvin Cook ends up, the Steelers could look at that team for possible cuts at the running back position.
New York Jets
This is the most intriguing backfield to watch. Breece Hall is coming off a torn ACL last season, and he may not be fully ready by Week 1. As a result, they have been linked to Cook. Michael Carter and Zonovan “Bam” Knight are quality backups, but one of them may be expendable soon. The team just selected University of Pittsburgh standout Israel Abanikanda in the fifth round in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He’ll likely get some sort of chance to prove himself in 2023. Even if they don’t sign Cook and Hall isn’t ready until a few weeks into the season, it seems like someone will be expendable from this group at some point. Knight and Carter are guys that have proven they can contribute on an NFL field. Either one of them would be a solid option for Pittsburgh, as they present more experience than the guys currently on the roster.
Miami Dolphins
Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. return from last year's backfield for the Dolphins. Beyond that, they are possible suitors for Cook, as aforementioned. As if they needed any more speed, they just picked up De'Von Achane in the 2023 NFL Draft. That means Myles Gaskin and/or Salvon Ahmed won't be able to make the 53-man roster, of course, barring any injury or unforeseen circumstances.
Gaskin has ran for 1,355 yards in his career, but he played just 39 offensive snaps in 2022. Last year, Bleacher Report's Maurice Moton picked the Steelers as a possible landing spot for Gaskin. He ended up sticking around with the AFC East squad, but based off his limited playing time in 2022, he seems like a real cut candidate this fall.
Brian Fluharty / USA TODAY Sports
Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin will be a name to watch in the wave of roster cuts, as the Steelers could use him as experience for their No. 3 RB spot.
Philadelphia Eagles
The NFC East squad currently has six running backs on its roster, and they all have some talent. At least two of the six will be cut at some point, if not three. That means longtime Eagles RB Boston Scott or 2021 third-rounder Trey Sermon could be on the way out. Offseason acquisition D’Andre Swift is a lock for their roster given what they gave up for him. Beyond him, Kenneth Gainwell and Rashaad Penny will fight for playing time as well. Someone will be cut from the crowded backfield, and the Steelers could benefit from it.
Of the situations and names listed, who would make the most sense for the Steelers? Are you concerned about the team's RB depth or should they stick with some youthful guys? Would you consider bringing back a guy like Snell for special teams purposes? Share your thoughts below!
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