Chris Adamski's mock draft: After years of misses in mid rounds, Steelers go RB in 1st

Sure, the “modern” thing to do is to resist the allure of taking a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The analytics prove it, the anecdotal evidence seems to support it and the smartest guys in the room all swear by it.

Problem is for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they’ve tried it the other way, and it isn’t working. Four years in a row, they’ve invested a middle-round pick on a running back. Yet here they are, coming off three consecutive pitiful seasons of bottom-three NFL rushing attacks and without the “bell cow” runner coach Mike Tomlin craves.

Enough.

Yeah, star running backs don’t last very long. True, rushing production is likely more dependent on scheme and blocking than on the guy carrying the ball. Sure, the Steelers could wait and roll the dice again to find that diamond in the rough such as the Packers’ Aaron Jones (fifth round, 2017) or the Jaguars’ James Robinson (undrafted, 2020) or even their own Willie Parker (undrafted, 2004).

But odds are they’ll again end up with yet another Anthony McFarland or Jaylen Samuels of Benny Snell. Or, going back, another Chris Rainey or Baron Batch or Jonathan Dwyer.

And for all the talk that elite running backs can be found anywhere, each of the top five rushers in the NFL last season were taken in the top three rounds. Four were taken among the top 45 picks.

The Steelers’ second pick this year is 55th overall.

If your running game needs a major upgrade and you like the running back available at No. 24, take him.

1. (24) Najee Harris, RB, Alabama: The consensus best running back available and the only one among the top tier who projects as a workhorse.

2. (55) Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma: After resisting grabbing a center in the first round, the Steelers take the best of what’s available.

3. (87) Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa: If tackle isn’t the pick in Rounds 1 or 2, it is a must in Round 3.

4. (128) Hunter Long, TE, Boston College: He probably won’t last this long, but if he does, the Steelers will be pleased.

4. (140) Tre Brown, CB, Oklahoma: The Steelers shoot their shot at finding a replacement for Mike Hilton in the slot.

6. (216) Isaiah McDuffie, ILB, Boston College: An undersized but motivated and highly productive tackler, think of McDuffie as the new Tyler Matakevich.

7. (245) Daelin Hayes, OLB, Notre Dame: A high-character winner from a major program, the Steelers have met with Hayes.

7. (254) Quinton Bohanna, DT, Kentucky: Keeping Dan McCullers on their roster for six years proved the Steelers like to have a mammoth, space-eating nose tackle in reserve. “Big Q” is 6-foot-4, 357.