The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Derrick Harmon out of Oregon. The pick was controversial to some as both Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart were still on the board when the organization made the selection, but the franchise opted to add to the defensive line -- rather than fill the need at quarterback. Addressing the defensive line was always going to be the right move to make in the first round of the event, but now Pittsburgh will turn its attention to the rest of the draft and filling various holes throughout the roster.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon talking with his college Head Coach Dan Lanning at Oregon.
Pittsburgh has paid a lot of attention to prospects that are projected to go on Day 2 of the draft, but the organization does not have a selection until the third round. The Steelers sacrificed their second-round pick in exchange for DK Metcalf, which means the franchise won't be picking until the 83rd selection of the draft. Pittsburgh has done its due diligence with various running backs, quarterbacks, and wide receivers that could fly off the board on Day 2, but many insiders are suggesting the organization has its sights set on the running back position.
The 2025 draft class is loaded with high-impact running backs, and many of them are expected to go off the board in the second and third rounds. The Steelers could consider trading up to land the player they desire, or they can stay put with the 83rd pick and hope that one of the players they adore falls to them.
The Steelers like to pick players that they have gotten to know and had in the building throughout the pre-draft process, and plenty of players fit that criteria at running back. The organization brought in nine running backs for pre-draft visits, and it is feasible to consider that most of them could be picked on Day 2 of the draft. One of those visitors was already selected in the first round in former North Carolina star Omarion Hampton, but there are still exciting prospects for the Steelers, led by TreVeyon Henderson.
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Buckeyes' TreVeyon Henderson runs away from Texas during a college football playoff game in 2024.
Henderson received a lot of late buzz as a potential first round pick, and he is likely a player the Steelers would need to move up the board for if the organization wanted to land him. He is a back that can do it all, and he is arguably the best player at the position when it comes to pass protection. His former teammate Quinshon Judkins should also be considered, and he is more likely to fall into the range of where Pittsburgh is picking.
Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa is another option, although Pittsburgh would likely need to make a trade to land him. If the organization is against trading and wants to stick and pick at 83, players like Judkins, Dylan Sampson, Trevor Etienne, and Bhayshul Tuten are likely targets.
Whichever running back the Steelers decide to select will not need to carry the workload from the backfield. It will likely be a split responsibility between the potential rookie, Jaylen Warren, and Kenneth Gainwell. Pittsburgh's offense has struggled to remain consistent over the last several seasons, so adding any of these weapons would be a wide decision for the organization.
Steelers Could Wait Until Day 3 Of The Draft To Address Running Back
Pittsburgh has four selections on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, and the running back class is deep enough that the organization could wait to address that need if it wanted to. A player like RJ Harvey could be an option in the fourth or fifth round, if Pittsburgh wanted to use its third round selection on another position. Other players that should be considered are Ollie Gordon II, DJ Giddens, and Jaydon Blue.
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Former UCF running back RJ Harvey during a home game in college.
Any of these running backs should be able to contribute something to the offense immediately, especially since they will be played sparingly due to Warren and Gainwell already being in the backfield. It might be wise for the Steelers to wait until Day 3 to make a move at running back, but the team has shown a clear desire to run the football under Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith.
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