A year after taking Najee Harris, Steelers could seek his backup on 3rd day of NFL Draft

No matter which player the Pittsburgh Steelers pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, they only can hope to duplicate the same type of value they received from Najee Harris in 2021.

All Harris did in his first professional season was play 84% of all offensive snaps and, in doing so, set the franchise rookie record for rushing yards (1,200) and receptions (74), finished fourth among all NFL backs in rushing and ranked second in yards from scrimmage (1,667).

Although his production was impressive, his usage raised the inevitable question of whether it can be sustained over the long haul.

Coach Mike Tomlin thinks so because of Harris’ preparation and cut-throat nature.

“He loves the competition,” Tomlin said earlier this month at the NFL annual meeting. “As it got thicker, he loved it more. I like guys, I’m attracted to guys, that are competition junkies, and he is one.”

Still, Harris touched the ball 381 times, the sixth-highest total for a rookie since the AFL-NFL merger. As much as Tomlin likes to ride his running backs until the proverbial “wheels fall off,” he might want to consider easing back the throttle a bit this season.

Of course, that would require the Steelers to have a dependable backup — something they lacked last season and was partially responsible for Harris carrying such a heavy workload.

While Harris had 307 carries, which ranked second in the league, backup Benny Snell Jr. totaled just 36. Kalen Ballage had 12 and Anthony McFarland three.

Snell is entering his fourth season with the Steelers and played a career-low 9% of the offensive snaps in 2021. Ballage remains a free agent, and McFarland appeared in two games.

That’s an indication the Steelers could use a draft pick — most likely on the third day — to find a running back to help ease Harris’ workload this year.

“I love this running back group,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I don’t think there’s going to be one that goes in the first round. I think this is a really deep group. I was talking with a personnel director, and he said, ‘Let’s just circle the fourth round.’

“You’re going to get a great back in the fourth round, especially if you want a bigger back.”

The way the position has become devalued — with wide receiver replacing it as the focal point of offenses — it’s feasible a running back might not be drafted in the first round for the first time since 2014.

It nearly happened two years ago when Clyde Edwards-Helaire went to Kansas City with the final pick of the round. Last year, Harris and Travis Etienne went to the Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars, respectively, with the Nos. 24-25 picks.

Iowa State’s Breece Hall and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III are the two premier backs in this year’s class, but most draft analysts expect them to go off the board in the second round. They were two of the most productive rushers last season, and each ran sub-4.40 times in offseason workouts.

“I don’t have a problem taking those guys in the first round provided your team is ready to win right now, and they are all meaningful carries,” Jeremiah said. “In other words, if you’re a bad team and you take a running back high, if we assume (running backs) have a short shelf life and you’re going to get five years out of those guys, then you’re wasting two of those years or you’re wasting two years of carries on a bad team.”

Last year, after Harris and Etienne were taken on the first day, just two running backs went on the second — Javonte Williams in the second round and Trey Sermon in the third. The other 15 running backs drafted went on the third day.

History could repeat itself this year, but that could provide a deeper pool of prospects for the Steelers in the fourth round and beyond.

“It falls off after those two (Hall and Walker),” said NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, “but the third, fourth and fifth rounds are going to be filled with prospects possessing size, toughness and talent that will land them roles in running back tandems and as pass-catching specialists.”

Top 5 running backs

1. Breece Hall, Iowa State, Jr, 5-11, 217

After leading all FBS rushers with 1,572 yards as a sophomore, Hall repeated as a first-team All-American in 2021. He was the Big 12 offensive player of the year and ranked seventh nationally with 1,472 rushing yards, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. He tied for third with 20 rushing scores.

2. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State, Jr., 5-9, 211

After transferring from Wake Forest, Walker became the Big Ten running back of the year and Doak Walker winner. He finished second among FBS backs by rushing for 1,636 yards, and he averaged 6.2 yards for carry. He also had 18 rushing touchdowns in 12 starts.

3. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M, Jr., 6-0, 217

As a junior, he led the Aggies by rushing for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. A year earlier, he was a first-team all-conference pick in the SEC when he amassed 1,036 yards and nine touchdowns and had a 5.4 average yards per attempt.

4. Dameon Pierce, Florida, Sr., 5-10, 218

Pierce got on the field all four years at Florida, but his only time as a regular starter was his junior year. In 2021, he started once in 13 games but led the Gators with 13 rushing touchdowns while gaining 574 yards on 100 carries. He also caught three touchdown passes among his 19 receptions.

5. James Cook, Georgia, Sr., 5-11, 199

The younger brother of Dalvin Cook, he helped Georgia win the national championship by rushing for 728 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He also caught 27 passes for 284 yards and four scores.

Best fit for Steelers, first day

Nobody

Like tight end, there is no running back considered worthy of the No. 20 overall pick, and the Steelers aren’t in the market for one this early given the way Harris produced as a rookie.

Best fit for Steelers, second day

Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

Spiller could fall down draft boards because he declined to run the 40 at the NFL Combine and when he did decide to run, he clocked in at 4.64 seconds. But Mike Tomlin likes young players with upside, and Spiller doesn’t turn 21 until August.

Best fit for Steelers, third day

Jerome Ford, Cincinnati

The Alabama transfer spent two years at Cincinnati and was the lead back in the Bearcats’ run to the college football playoff. He rushed for 1,319 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and scored a school-record 19 rushing touchdowns.