The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2025 NFL Draft with several holes to fill, and not much draft capital to fill them with. After trading their second round pick for D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh only has two picks on the first two days of the draft. One position the Steelers need to address in the draft is running back. After losing Najee Harris in free agency, Pittsburgh will be looking to round out their running back group currently featuring Jaylen Warren and offseason acquisition Kenneth Gainwell.
Best Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Draft Prospect Fits
Luckily for the Steelers, this is a great year to enter the draft in need of a running back. One of the best running back classes in recent memory, Pittsburgh will have ample opportunity to find a potential franchise back on Day 2 or even Day 3 of the draft. It’s highly unlikely they would draft a running back with their 21st overall pick. The one scenario in which it could happen is if Ashton Jeanty experiences a massive slide on draft night. Despite having other major needs, it would be hard to pass on Jeanty that late in the first round. Other than that pipe dream, there are several great running back fits for the Steelers in later rounds of the draft.
DJ Giddens – Kansas State
Starting with a player who’s on Pittsburgh’s radar, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens could very well be the Steelers third round pick. Pittsburgh used one of their 30 pre-draft visits on Gidden, so it’s safe to say they are interested. Giddens is a well-rounded prospect; he may not be elite at any aspect of his game, but he doesn’t feature many weaknesses, either. His speed is fine but not out of this world, but Pittsburgh already has two running backs with home run potential.
At 6’0″, 212 pounds, Giddens has the size the Steelers running back room is currently missing. He’s not as thick as Najee Harris, but he’s taller and heavier than both Warren and Gainwell. Giddens likely wouldn’t take over third-down back duties from Warren as a rookie, due to Warren’s abilities as a pass blocker and receiver out of the backfield. He would start out as a rotational piece in the backfield, but DJ Giddens certainly has long-term potential to be an every down featured back.
Quinshon Judkins – Ohio State
Similar to Giddens, if the Steelers want to draft Quinshon Judkins, they’d need to do it with their third round pick. Even then, it is far from a guarantee that Judkins will be available. If Pittsburgh can get their hands on Judkins, though, he would be the perfect piece to fill out their running back room. While Warren and Gainwell bring the speed and agility, Judkins brings the power to punish would-be tacklers.
If Pittsburgh wants to maintain the running back by committee approach, Judkins could be their guy. His strength makes him an ideal running back for early downs and short yardage situations. He is good enough in pass protection and as a receiver to be a third-down back, too. So, Pittsburgh could have Warren and Judkins alternate drives, or Judkins could be featured more on early downs and at the goal line, with Warren getting more work on third down and obvious passing situations.
Bhayshul Tuten – Virginia Tech
Purely from a fit perspective, Bhayshul Tuten might be the best running back prospect the Steelers could draft. The zone running scheme Tuten played in at Virginia Tech would serve him very well in Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy offense. Tuten excels at being patient, letting his blocks develop, and hitting the hole hard. When he meets a defender in the hole, he has the appropriate levels of strength and agility to forced a missed tackle.
While the Steelers running back room doesn’t lack speed, it doesn’t hurt to get even faster. They would be doing so with Tuten, whose 4.32 second 40-yard dash was the fastest among running backs at the combine. At 5’9″, 206 pounds, he wouldn’t add size to the Steelers running back room. But he’d transition seamlessly into Arthur Smith’s offense. He’s solid in the passing game, too, making him a legitimate option on third downs. With his experience in a zone-heavy offense and big play potential, Pittsburgh’s offense would greatly benefit from adding Tuten.
Main Photo: Reese Strickland – Imagn Images
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