The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to target a running back this offseason after opting not to pick up Najee Harris’ fifth-year option.
With this year’s draft boasting an impressive pool of running back talent, several mock drafts have linked the Steelers to selecting one in the first round. A frequently mentioned prospect is Ashton Jeanty, whose standout season has significantly boosted his draft stock.
However, former ESPN analyst and current Ringer analyst Todd McShay has a different prediction. Instead of Jeanty, McShay projects the Steelers to take Omarion Hampton with the 21st overall pick in the first round.
“With Najee Harris slated to be an unrestricted free agent and Jaylen Warren headed toward restricted free agency, the Steelers don’t have an obvious in-house candidate to lead their running back room in 2025.” McShay wrote. “Hampton’s a downhill runner who brings the yards-after-contact skills that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has historically coveted. He’d be an immediate talent upgrade at the position from a skill set and contract perspective, functioning as a cheaper, higher-upside version of Harris. Pittsburgh also has needs in the secondary and could target FSU cornerback Azareye’h Thomas with this pick if it decides to address the running back position later in the draft or in free agency.”
With several options available, the Steelers could choose to prioritize other positions in the first round and target a running back later in the draft.
If they take this approach, they should still have solid options at the position while also retaining Jaylen Warren’s services for at least another season.
Steelers Trade for Matthew Stafford Just Makes Sense
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in urgent need of a quarterback, and with the LA Rams granting Matthew Stafford permission to explore a trade, a potential move to Pittsburgh could be in play.
With the Steelers likely parting ways with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson this offseason, they could be looking to completely revamp their quarterback room for the second year in a row. While there’s no guarantee a trade will happen, Stafford’s availability and the Steelers’ potential aggressiveness in the market make the possibility intriguing.
One proposed trade scenario saw Stafford and a 2025 third-round pick sent to the Browns in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick. If the Steelers could craft a similar or better offer, they might be able to secure the veteran QB while maintaining enough draft capital to develop a young signal-caller.
Last season, Stafford played 16 games, completing 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions—numbers that would be a major boost for Pittsburgh’s offense.
