The Steelers legend weighed in on the latest episode Footbahlin
Pittsburgh Steelers fans continue to wait day after day to get the notification on Aaron Rodgers officially signing with Pittsburgh. Almost a month into the new league year, that news has yet to come, and all that has taken place for the last three weeks is speculation and waiting. Everyone seems to have their thoughts and theories on why Rodgers hasn’t signed yet, including Ben Roethlisberger. On the latest episode of Footbahlin, Roethlisberger revealed why he believes Rodgers remains unsigned.
“I think Aaron is secretly still holding out for Minnesota,” Roethlisberger said. “Which is why he hasn’t signed with the Steelers. Why else would you go throw with DK and working out, and blast it to everybody that ‘I’m throwing to these guys,’ but you won’t sign?”
While Roethlisberger may be onto something there, it does look all but certain that Rodgers will end up with the Steelers. As pointed out previously, Rodgers will want to control when the story breaks, which is why Pat McAfee’s live show in Pittsburgh on April 9th is a date Steelers fans should circle. In 2023, Rodgers revealed his plans to play for the New York Jets before getting traded from Green Bay to New York. While most are past getting impatient and are just flat out over and done with this never-ending saga (and understandably so), an end will come.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Keep up with the latest pre-draft visits for the Steelers
With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine officially in the books, attention now turns to prospect pro days and pre-draft visits.
At the conclusion of the combine, each NFL team is able to bring in 30 prospects for a private visit at the facility between March 4 and April 6. These are commonly referred to as “top-30 visits,” though that phrasing can be somewhat confusing, as a scheduled “top-30 visit” doesn’t necessarily mean a player is ranked in the top 30 on a team’s draft board. No on-field workouts are permitted at these visits, but players can undergo physical exams and conduct interviews.
NFL teams are also allowed to conduct video or telephone with draft-eligible players. Per Giants.com, NFL rules restrict clubs to a maximum of “three video or telephone interviews per player, no longer than one hour in length.”
In addition to the 30 official visits, NFL teams are able to hold visits with local players, as long as they do not provide transportation. A “local” player is determined to be a player who is from or attends college in the “local metropolitan area as defined by a current Rand McNally map.”
Pre-draft visits can be huge indicators of a team’s potential interest in a player, and the Steelers, in particular, have used these visits to their advantage. In 2024, the team had top-30 visits with first-round OT Troy Fautanu, ILB Payton Wilson, OL Mason McCormick and DL Logan Lee and had local visits with C Zach Frazier and CB Beanie Bishop (signed as an UDFA). DB Ryan Watts and WR Roman Wilson were the only two draft selections in 2024 that Pittsburgh did not bring in for a top-30 visit.
Here’s a look at the reported top 30 visits for the Steelers heading into 2025, as well as reported local visits. We’ll be keeping this updated leading up through the NFL Draft.
In this week’s Read & React, Ryan and Ryland discuss if the Steelers’ top UDFA of 2024 can earn a starting job once again in the upcoming season. Also: thoughts on the 2025 quarterback class.
The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and while there’s still plenty to discuss regarding the hundreds of potential Steelers ready to join the pros, Read & React will be starting this column with a new segment that looks back at Pittsburgh’s 2024 season:
Steelers in review: CB Beanie Bishop Jr.
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
Welcome to R&R’s newest segment: Steelers in Review. The need to keep an accurate view of last season can get lost in the news cycle of free agency and the draft. As a result, we’ll be looking at one Steeler’s 2024 season in each segment, noting where they succeeded, where they struggled, and what they’ll bring to the roster in 2024. This week, we’ll be looking at slot cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr.’s rookie year:
RB: Let’s start off by reviewing some of the expectations surrounding Bishop ahead of his rookie year. As an undrafted free agent, he started off as a popular name in the Redman Award debate but opinions were split on if he’d be just a bottom-of-the-roster folk hero or an actual contender for a starting job on defense.
Then two things happened over the course of the preseason: The Steelers never added another possible starter at slot corner despite Cam Sutton’s looming eight-game suspension and Grayland Arnold’s injury, but despite the wide-open opportunity, Bishop never ran away with the job.
I didn’t bother reviewing those preseason games for this article, but here’s my blurb on Bishop from the Redman Award voting article back in August:
The Redman Award frontrunner throughout most of the summer, Bishop beat the odds as an undersized, undrafted free agent to win the Steelers’ nickel cornerback battle. A scrappy defender who provided some highlight-worthy plays in training camp, an injury and a quiet preseason resulted in a hit to the rookie’s winning chances.
Bishop, of course, ended up making the Steelers’ 53-man roster and sticking there all year. The lone remaining challenger for the slot job, Thomas Graham Jr., was relegated to the practice squad and later released. Bishop started in the slot until his role was reduced by the return of Cam Sutton in Week 10 of the regular season.
With the background out of the way, we’ll turn to an evaluation of Bishop’s on-field performance. How did the Steelers use Bishop in 2024?
RP: There wasn’t a ton of variety to Bishop’s usage, and likely for good reason. When the Steelers had him out there prior to Sutton’s return, it was almost exclusively as a nickel/slot corner. PFF’s charting occasionally credited him with some reps at safety based on where he lined up, but his role was mostly consistent.
Watching Bishop’s 2024 tape, I didn’t come away thinking Bishop was a bad corner, but there was certainly tons of room for improvement. Bishop was an undrafted free agent due to his size and questions about his play speed. These show up on his lowlights reel. Too often he was just a beat late on a read, and on these plays he would struggle to recover.
Right now, Bishop is much better in zone than he is in man. Let’s start with some positives before we pile on the negatives. Watching Bishop, his instincts in zone appear much more comfortable than in man. That isn’t to say he doesn’t have problematic moments of hesitation in zone as well, but overall, he looks more confident. Ryland mentioned Bishop’s two-interception game against the Jets, and during the first interception, you can see him lure Rodgers into the throw before quickly flipping his hips and making the play.
Looking back at Beanie Bishop’s first INT against Rodgers. I think what I love most is the way Beanie played this, it locked Rodgers into the matchup for Wilson. Adams probably makes a chunk play on the fade route if thrown, but Bishop’s leverage baited Rodgers to target Wilson. pic.twitter.com/MoehSevfsZ
Unfortunately, Bishop was much less comfortable in man coverage. In the first clip below, Bishop never even gets into his backpedal before KaVontae Turpin is behind him and tearing down the seam for a big gain. In the second play, the ball actually goes to the other side of the field, but watch Bishop at the bottom of the screen. Prior to the snap, he’s still getting corrections from Joey Porter Jr. The Cowboys deploy Turpin out of the backfield, this time running a wheel route. Bishop bites on the flat and gets torched deep.
Bishop was better in zone. Against man, his athletic testing begins to show up and inexperience begins to show up pic.twitter.com/wGacN0i2Vq
Dallas also tried to bully Bishop due to his size. The Cowboys clearly keyed on the Steelers defense having issues with communication, especially on plays involving motion, and they looked to scheme Bishop out of the play on several occasions.
The first thing that stands out is how Dallas would scheme Bishop into traffic. On multiple occasions they took advantage of his struggles fighting through blocks pic.twitter.com/MuxYAhehCI
On the first play below, the Cowboys once again have Turpin in motion. They start to motion him left but he turns back around and sprints into a flat route at the snap. Bishop, who had been trailing Turpin, runs into linebacker Patrick Queen who was dropping into his zone, creating more of a mess and putting Bishop in an impossible position. Bishop gets on his horse to make it to the sideline, but he can’t get there before the first down is picked up, and then makes matters worse with a facemask penalty.
Miscommunication was a team wide problem, but Dallas put Bishop in some difficult spots and took advantage of any missteps or lapses in concentration pic.twitter.com/kfbUwLsV94
The second clip above is a team effort. The Cowboys stack two receivers and a tight end to the right. Bishop, for his part, covers his man well, but there is some miscommunication from the Steelers on how to handle the two other targets. Both Donte Jackson and Queen end up following Jalen Tolbert on the drag route and no one picks up tight end Jake Ferguson. Where the play goes from bad to worse is Bishop is so locked in on CeeDee Lamb — which, understable — that he doesn’t notice Ferguson has made the catch. He actually looks over his shoulder back towards the middle of the field as Ferguson gallops past him. Tough look.
In the third clip, we have the game-deciding play. While I can’t definitely say what the assignments on this play are, I think Bishop is one of a handful of players who could be at fault. The Cowboys are running a crossing routes concept, trying to create a natural rub to spring one of their guys open. On this play, Bishop trails Ceedee Lamb while DeShon Elliott trails Jalen Tolbert. I believe they are running a zone concept, perhaps a hybrid, because while the Steelers have players trailing players in the middle of the field, Jackson at the top of the screen doesn’t follow anyone in particular.
The play was a mess and hard to tell, but I think Bishop is intended to pass off Lamb once he reaches the midpoint of the field, especially with Minkah Fitzpatrick also hounding Lamb on the play. However, Bishop sticks with him a step too long. Tolbert uses Fitzpatrick and Lamb to create a barrier on the trailing DeShon Elliott — who navigates it about as well as can be expected in that situation — and creates just enough separation to make the winning catch. By the time Bishop notices what’s going on, he’s not in a position to make a play and then starts to run towards the backfield for a moment. Steelers lose the game.
That’s all pretty rough. I chose the Dallas game to highlight some of Bishop’s weaknesses. Of the games where he played at least 30 snaps in coverage, the Dallas game was his second lowest-graded game, according to PFF. I didn’t use his worst game, against Denver, because that game came in Week 2 and that feels unfair to a rookie with Bishop’s background. Still, it highlights why Tomlin and Teryl Austin didn’t have many reservations about reducing his role, even with Sutton playing so poorly.
What did you notice in Bishop’s tackling, Ryland? And do you think Bishop has a long-term future with the Steelers? Or have we already seen his best ball?
RB: I watched the entire second half of Bishop’s season for this article and can vouch for what’s in Ryan’s scouting report above. Bishop’s play speed and reaction time in coverage are still a major work in progress, with the rookie struggling in those areas throughout the entire season.
I will add one thing: Bishop ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Big 12 pro day, the fastest of any player there. His RAS shows “elite” speed and “good” agility — so the tools are all there to keep up with NFL receivers. Game speed is obviously vastly different from running in a straight line, but I think as the game slows down for Bishop as he gains experience, we will see some improvements from him in coverage.
As Ryan alluded to in the clip of the interception against Aaron Rodgers, Bishop has flashes of elite hip mobility. I noticed that in another clip, a great pass defensed against the Browns in Week 12. He has an impressive ability to rapidly turn the direction he’s facing to make a play on the ball.
Had to shout out one coverage rep – this PBU against the Browns was great (if you can even see Bishop on this play) pic.twitter.com/I8txkv2p6y
If Bishop can continue to improve his comfort in the Steelers’ scheme, there’s a brighter future ahead in coverage with the tools he has.
But what about Bishop as a tackler? I’d say that was a more consistently strong aspect of his game despite his size. Bishop is small — only 5’9, 182 pounds on the Steelers website — but he consistently showed in 2024 that it doesn’t hinder him much when it comes to bringing down defenders.
Bishop’s first real highlight of the season showed exactly that. With less than a minute left against the Falcons and maintaining a one-score lead in the fourth quarter, he brought down Ray-Ray McCloud in bounds to run the clock down to 13 seconds. The Falcons hurried to the line, spiked the ball, and then T.J. Watt called game on the next play.
While McCloud isn’t exactly a big receiver, you can see what makes Bishop an effective tackler: He generally goes for the legs to avoid bouncing off the ball-carrier. The effort to keep McCloud in bounds also shouldn’t go unnoticed, either.
Bishop’s first highlight as a Steeler shows a lot to like. Good drive on the ball and a low, form tackle to keep Ray-Ray McCloud in bounds with seconds left on the clock. Helped win the game for Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/qzvK9GCHMm
I didn’t see many missed tackles from Bishop in 2024, even if he did occasionally get dragged around a bit before bringing the ball-carrier to the ground. Per PFF, he had a 7.7% missed tackle rate, which ranked slightly above-average among his teammates and better than several high-level starters.
One thing I remember highlighting back when Bishop first joined the Steelers was his drive on the ball. That was evident in his tackling, with Bishop seeing a lot of success coming downhill.
I especially like the first clip below, where you can see Bishop (lined up at the top of the screen in the slot, with a sizable cushion) work through traffic to make the stop. That’s a skill of his that also translates to special teams, further helping his value to the team.
The most impressive aspect of Bishop’s tackling was his work against receiver screens. You’d (reasonably) assume that at his size he’s going to struggle greatly against blockers, but in many cases he found a way to power through them. His tenacity as a tackler is definitely something that’s carried over from his time at West Virginia.
I’ll also highlight some of Bishop’s work blitzing from the slot. He’s not Mike Hilton, but his speed off the edge did wreck some plays (even helping cause the interception in the second clip). I included the last clip because I was a little surprised to see Bishop move the left guard back as far as he did on the rush.
The first clip isn’t overly worrying even if the angle is subpar, but the second is a painful watch. Ultimately, it circles back to some of Ryan’s points about Bishop looking more comfortable in zone coverage where he can see the play unfold in front of him.
He lacked the instincts, awareness, and confidence his rookie year to quickly process and react on defense. As a result, Bishop still had some highlight-worthy plays, but he consistently played slower and more unsure than he’s capable of.
With that in mind, I don’t think we’ve seen Bishop’s best ball yet. Going from a West Virginia UDFA to starting in the NFL Week 1 is a massive change. With a full season and offseason under his belt in the pros, I think Bishop can definitely challenge for the starting spot again and have a much-improved sophomore campaign.
However, he certainly wasn’t good enough in 2024 to lock himself into that role. Brandin Echols was an offseason signing I liked at cornerback who Tomlin mentioned will be gunning for that starting spot as well. I think that competition will be a tough one as Echols brings more polish and experience as a cover corner even if he played most recently on the boundary.
And although the Steelers haven’t shown much interest in the position during the draft process, I wouldn’t rule out the team adding another contender for the slot battle there, either.
At the moment, the Steelers’ starting nickel role is Bishop’s to lose, but it’s anything but a guarantee. With some possible improvements from his rookie year, I think he can develop into a solid starter. At the very least, his 2024 showed some great highlights and a solid performance as a tackler that make him a worthwhile depth piece to keep on the roster.
When should the Steelers target a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft? And would an Aaron Rodgers signing affect that?
Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
RP: While I don’t think Aaron Rodgers should have any bearing on whether or not the Steelers draft a quarterback — he’ll turn 42 in December for crying out loud — I would strongly advise them against drafting a quarterback in the first round this year.
Our readers need no reminder that the Steelers forced a quarterback pick in 2022 when they selected Kenny Pickett at 20th overall. Whether you think Pickett was given a fair shake in Pittsburgh or not, it doesn’t change that intel from the draft community indicated he was a player that was incredibly overdrafted. Many teams, if not most, reportedly had Day 2 grades on him at best. It’s hard to come to any other conclusion than the Steelers misread QB market, or worse, didn’t care. Not only were no other quarterbacks selected until the third round, but the player that was reportedly the second-best prospect — Malik Willis — ended up as the third quarterback off the board.
Personally, I would take Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe or Tyler Shough over Kenny Pickett, but I wouldn’t take any of them in the first round. There are just too many question marks in each of their games, especially with the Steelers’ recent history with developing a quarterback being less than stellar.
I don’t love the idea of taking a quarterback in the third round this year, but I can at least understand it. The Steelers have plenty of holes on the roster, but they aren’t nearly as bad as our comment section would have you believe. This was still a playoff team, and there are still good players on this roster.
Sure, I’d argue shoring up the secondary, the interior line on either side of the ball, or filling out the receiver room might be a better use of resources. But if the Steelers get enamored with one of Dart, Shough, or Milroe, and they’re still available in the third round — or the Steelers swing a trade to get into the second round — I’d be OK with them sitting a rookie behind Rodgers for a year.
But if Rudolph ends up being the starter, and they spend the pick on a quarterback, I’d want to see the rookie before the year is over. I know Tomlin is adverse to change, but in this scenario it would be criminal not to find out what you have before the 2026 class rolls around.
I’m also OK if the Steelers would rather use a Day 3 pick. Kyle McCord has been my deep sleeper in this QB class and I’d be willing to take a swing starting in Round 5. I know some fans here think a Day 3 QB is a wasted pick — I used to have the same opinion — but I’ve warmed to the idea. Most Day 3 picks are lucky to ever make a roster. Look up the Steelers’ draft picks in Round 5 or later in recent years and tell me how many of those players would be worth hanging onto over the chance at finding your QB. Is it likely they find him? No. But it’s also not likely the Steelers will miss out on any All-Pros either.
RB: I think we’re in complete agreement here. Aaron Rodgers at 41 years old shouldn’t make much of difference regarding whether the Steelers do or don’t draft a quarterback, outside of whether or not we get some Skylar Thompson “lol that’s Mason Rudolph’s replacement not minds take it how you want to I am back” memes after the rookie is drafted.
But to play devil’s advocate, the Rodgers signing would indicate the Steelers are still hanging onto some sort of “win now” philosophy, meaning the team may not want to spend one of their two remaining picks on Days 1-2 on a player who ideally will be sitting on the bench for most of the season. So if the team signs Rodgers, I’d guess the odds of Pittsburgh drafting a quarterback late will be slightly higher.
And even if the team does pass on Rodgers, I still have a hard time seeing a quarterback in the first three rounds being a good pick in this weak class. There won’t be good value where the Steelers pick in the first — Jaxson Dart just doesn’t have enough standout traits to be picked that early, in my opinion — while Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough would be defendable options in the third, but each come with massive red flags. Milroe is an elite athlete but still an extremely underdeveloped passer, while Shough has a fun, polished game, but only one good season across seven (yes, seven) years of college football — and three major injuries over that span.
They’re each fun prospects who I wouldn’t hate at No. 83, but I have a hard time believing they’ll be the best available in a surprisingly deep first two days of the draft at other positions.
But Day 3? I hope the Steelers grab a flier at quarterback there regardless of whether Rodgers happens or not. 2026 might be the year the Steelers make a big push for the franchise guy, but taking a dart throw a year early doesn’t hurt, especially given Ryan’s point about how most Day 3 picks don’t pan out anyway.
A late-round name I’ve been a fan of lately is Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke, who doesn’t exactly scream upside, but has a good floor as a highly efficient pocket passer who excelled in the middle of the field in 2024. He also toughed it through a partially-torn ACL all year, which is ridiculously impressive. Maybe he’s a starter someday, but at the very least you’re getting a competent backup on a cheap, four-year deal. I like Ohio State’s Will Howard too, but I’m not sure how far he’ll drop.
Join in on Steelers R&R by sharing your takes on this week’s topics. What are your thoughts on Beanie Bishop Jr.? When should the Steelers draft a quarterback in 2025? Let us know in the comments! Feel free to pitch future questions in the comment section or on Twitter/X: tag @_Ryland_B or @RyanParishMedia.
D.K. Metcalfrecently caught passes fromAaron Rodgers, who has been a Steelers free agent target for weeks. Although Metcalf scored his coveted extension, being part of Pittsburgh’s Rodgers recruitment did not appear to be his goal upon hitting the trade market in earnest this offseason.
With the Steelers lacking quarterback clarity, it makes sense they were not the seventh-year veteran’s priority landing spot. Though, Metcalf also made it known, per Henderson, he did not want to be traded to the Patriots. Despite New England now having a long-term QB hopeful in Drake Maye, Metcalf was not interested in a deal that sent him there. He follows Brandon Aiyuk in passing on such a deal.
The Patriots showed interest this year, which is unsurprising given their enduring effort to upgrade at wide receiver, but they did not ultimately make an offer. That may well be the case because Metcalf made it known he did not want to end up in Foxborough. The Pats were prepared to pursue him in a trade, Henderson adds. This fit not coming to fruition follows a summer Aiyuk effort that involved the Pats being linked to a $32MM-per-year offer — the highest known extension price during those trade sweepstakes — only to not land on the WR’s list. The Steelers instead emerged as Aiyuk’s top 49ers competition, with the Commanders being a destination as well.
Washington did not come up for Metcalf, but Henderson indicates Houston and Los Angeles did. The Texans and Chargers instead emerged as the wideout’s preferred destinations, confirming a previous report that the receiver had eyed those AFC squads. Though, the Seahawks needed to both find a Metcalf landing spot that appeased the receiver, one willing to meet the team’s price point and one willing to sign off on an upper-crust extension. The Steelers ended up checking those boxes, giving Metcalf a $32.99MM-per-year deal — one coming with $60MM at signing — to end their lengthy WR pursuit.
Given Metcalf’s success in Seattle, it is interesting he requested a move. The team had seen Geno Smith morph from roster afterthought to Comeback Player of the Year. Metcalf’s numbers vacillated during Smith’s time as Seattle’s starter. After a 1,300-yard season in Russell Wilson‘s final healthy Seahawks slate, Metcalf posted two sub-1,000-yard years (2021, 2024).
Last season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as Seattle’s top weapon — to the point Mike Macdonaldprioritized an OC who would help reignite Metcalf. Now, he and Smith are out of the picture. Macdonald’s OC search highlighted an interest in retaining Metcalf, but Henderson adds the team weighed the WR’s unhappiness with what it would take to extend him for a second time.
The Texans already have Nico Collins on a big-ticket extension; his $24MM-per-year price — which matches Metcalf’s previous AAV — now looks like a steal. The Chargers jettisoned their two high-priced WR contracts (Keenan Allen, Mike Williams) weeks into Jim Harbaugh‘s tenure. While the Bolts previously came up as a team to watch for Metcalf, Harbaugh’s outfit has kept costs low at the position. Recommitting to the run game, the Chargers did ultimately reunite with Williams this offseason. Not contributing much after the Steelers added him in a trade, the former top-10 pick is back in L.A. on a one-year deal worth only $3MM.
The Pats have temporarily addressed their receiver situation by signingStefon Diggs, a perennial Pro Bowler the Texans showed interest in retaining. While Diggs has an extensive production history, he is also a depressed asset due to coming off an ACL tear at 31. New England’s long-term WR search will likely continue, and the Aiyuk and Metcalf storylines show the difficulties the team has had recruiting here post-Tom Brady.
Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!
Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.
The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.
After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.
A few weeks ago, we saw Browns defensive end Myles Garrettmake an about face on his stance for the team’s chances for contention on their current trajectory. While it hasn’t been said exclusively, one may assume that, in the team’s meetings and negotiations with Garrett, Cleveland gave him some insight into the team’s plans for becoming contenders.
One way that Cleveland could improve at the position is by drafting a talented rookie, but at No. 2 overall, the Browns sit just out of reach of the class’s best quarterback, Miami’s Cam Ward, who’s expected to be taken No. 1 overall by the Titans. While one might think it wouldn’t take too much to move up and exchange places with Tennessee, general manager Andrew Berry said at league meetings this week that the team is “unlikely” to trade up for Ward, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
In fact, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam seemed to indicate that they may not add a quarterback at all, saying to the media that they’re “not going to force it,” per Cabot. Instead, Cleveland may address Garrett’s position group by adding Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, who is widely seen as the top prospect in the class. Despite recent news of a stress reaction in Carter’s foot, Berry made it clear that the team is not concerned by the injury, stating that it shouldn’t “be prohibitive to a long, successful career,” per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
By not further addressing the quarterback position, the Browns would be setting themselves up to enter the 2025 NFL season with only Watson — who is questionable to be healthy by that time — and Pickett as options at QB1. That doesn’t seem to worry Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who told the media today that he believes in Pickett to be the team’s Week 1 starter “if it lands that way.” Over three years with the Steelers and Eagles, Pickett has a 15-10 record as a starter in the NFL with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
A battering ram out of North Carolina, Hampton would bring a physicality to Pittsburgh. But would he fit the team’s plans?
Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
When the Steelers declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Najee Harris last year, it became clear running back would be a position to watch for them in the 2025 draft. That’s even truer now. Jaylen Warren, third-down back Kenneth Gainwell and aging ex-wideout Cordarrelle Patterson do not make the most inspiring room for a team that seemingly has wanted to dedicate itself to a run-heavy, clock-grinding playstyle.
Fortunately, the 2025 running back class is shaping up to be one of the better groups in recent memory. It’s already drawing comparisons to the 2017 class, which had several noteworthy running backs, including former Steeler James Connor.
If the Steelers are looking for a back capable of being a bellcow, few prospects match that description quite as well as North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.
The basics on Omarion Hampton
Position: Running back
Class: Junior
Size: 6’0, 221 pounds, 30 1/2” arms, 9 3/8” hands
Age: 22
Projected draft round: Late 1st-Mid 2nd
Pro Comparison: Jonathan Stewart
Combine Results & RAS Score
Omarion Hampton is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.67 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 64 out of 1935 RB from 1987 to 2025.
A four-star recruit, Hampton chose to stay in his home state of North Carolina despite receiving offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, Florida and several other Big 10 and SEC schools. After playing sparingly during his freshman season, Hampton cemented himself as a workhorse with over 250 carries and 1,500 rushing yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Hampton looks the part and his tough running style is part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect.
AFC North fans will see Omarion Hampton moving the pile and dragging a platoon of defenders on his back and be like, “Hell yeah.” pic.twitter.com/7m9EjVjNpa
It’s one thing to be a tough runner. The NFL has had plenty of plodding, big-bodied backs carve out a role for a season or two. But what makes Hampton special is the short area burst he possesses. Take these two runs against Florida State below. The first is just a standard first down run — and UNC’s line does a good job of giving Hampton a big hole to hit — but in the blink of an eye he’s accelerated for six yards to keep the Tar Heels ahead of the sticks. In the second clip, Florida State initially seems to have done a decent job of muddying up the running lanes for Hampton. However, he finds a crease and never slows down his feet, hitting a small hole before winding back, doing a mini-hurdle over a tackler diving at his feet. Again, note how quickly he gets upfield.
But what will make Hampton a great back at the next level is his short area burst pic.twitter.com/cXyVyWtX0Q
That burst holds up if Hampton gets to the second level untouched. There are plenty of long, highlight-reel worthy runs on his tape to go with his broken tackles. Once Hampton has built up a head of steam, he is difficult to catch from behind.
While I’d describe Hampton more as a hammer, he’s got a high enough gear to create chunk plays pic.twitter.com/tLoSilqdHS
Hampton plays best in a gap scheme. He possesses some agility, but he isn’t as consistent moving laterally as he is getting downhill. If he has to slow his feet, he can struggle getting back up to the same speed he was at. While I question if Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy scheme would be the best fit for Hampton, it’s important to note that he isn’t incapable of getting outside.
In the passing game, Hampton wasn’t used too often as a blocker. While I did see a few reps in the games I watched, the vast majority of the time, he was either running a route or chipping and doing a late release. As a pass catcher, North Carolina mostly limited Hampton to screens and swing routes, but he was effective in those instances.
UNC didn’t have him doing any complex routes, but Hampton showed he can be a weapon on swings and screens. UNC especially loved getting him the ball with delayed shovel passes pic.twitter.com/8gyPBTPB7u
High-volume battering ram with a three-ingredient recipe of size, strength and aggression. Hampton is a linear runner lacking creativity and wiggle, but once the gas is engaged, he runs like a downhill truck whose brake lines have been cut. He has the base, balance and power to batter tacklers and reignite runs after contact but he fails to recognize alternative run lanes that offer easier paths and more yardage. He needs to work on his pass protection but can create positive plays on swing passes and screens. Hampton is a tone-setting future starter who can handle a heavy workload, but he absorbs rare levels of heavy contact that could create durability or longevity issues if he doesn’t learn to pick and choose his battles.
The blend of burst and pliability at first contact makes him someone who absorbs contact quite well, and as a result, he’s a pile pusher and a churner through second-level contact. With surprising mobility throughout his lower half, Hampton plays with strong contact balance and pairs that with light feet that step over and around trash at his feet as he presses the line of scrimmage.
This is a big back with a slippery feel — not just thanks to his feet and power but thanks to strong vision and processing out of the mesh point. He’s quick to ID and attack holes that are present immediately but is also accustomed to having to press the line of scrimmage and make a snap decision through a small crease.
Hampton is built like an NFL running back. He runs behind his pads with a strong leg drive. He has good body control and contact balance to bounce off tacklers and gain yards after contact. He converts speed-to-power well to run through defenders and fall forward. Hampton is at his best when his shoulders are squared to the line of scrimmage. He is an ideal fit for downhill gap scheme run offenses with a mixture of inside zones. He is a strong short-yardage and red-zone runner because of his physical and powerful running style.
If the Steelers were able to get four 1,000 yard seasons out of Najee Harris despite some obvious scheme-fit issues, I have no doubt Hampton could make a positive impact for the Steelers. When the draft cycle first started picking up in Demember, Hampton was my RB4. After watching film on all of the top running backs, he’s climbed up to my RB2. He just checks so many boxes: size, acceleration, toughness, vision, receiving ability.
Truthfully, Arthur Smith’s zone scheme is not the best fit for Hampton. Hampton thrives making quick reads and decisions, something a gap scheme can simplify for a back. While I think Hampton has good enough vision and burst to work running zone, that scheme rewards patience in a runner, and Hampton currently is better off in schemes where he can stick his foot in the ground and take off right away. Still, Smith had success with Derrick Henry, who I wouldn’t describe as a particularly twitchy back.
There’s a solid chance the Steelers won’t have a realistic shot at Hampton. He’s being talked about as a potential first-round pick, and I struggle to see the Steelers taking one that early. Even if he falls out of the first round, the Steelers would have to acquire a second round pick to bring him to Pittsburgh. That’s why it’s far more likely we’ll see him suit up for an AFC North rival.
TL;DR: Hampton is a battering ram with enough speed to fit in any system, though there is reason to doubt his fit with Arthur Smith’s offense. However, based on where he is projected to be picked, there is a strong chance that we see him land with a team like the Browns or Ravens.
What are your thoughts on UNC RB Omarion Hampton? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
NFL owners are voting on rule changes and various proposals for the 2025 season this week at the NFL Annual Meeting, wrapping up April 1.
Two of the proposed rules have passed, including a proposal to “expand the league’s replay-assist system” and a rule that will allow both teams possession of the ball in overtime in the regular season. This rule will apply even if the first team to possess the ball in overtime were to score a touchdown. Rule changes required the approval of at least 75% of clubs (24).
In 2022, the league approved a rule that would allow both teams to possess the ball in overtime, only during the postseason. The rule was enacted just once over that three-year period, during Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. In overtime, the 49ers possessed the ball first, opting to kick a field goal, only to be outscored by the Chiefs on the final drive with a touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to WR Mecole Hardman.
Prior to 2022, if the team that possessed the ball first in overtime scored with a field goal or touchdown on the first drive, the other team did not have an opportunity to possess the ball. Since 2022, teams that won the coin toss in overtime hold a 30-17-2 record.
The NFL’s overtime rules have long been a topic of discussion, especially when contrasted with the overtime rules in college football, which have long offered a bit more excitement and parity, giving teams multiple opportunities to possess the football.
The Steelers have had 18 regular-season overtime appearances under HC Mike Tomlin dating back to 2007, holding a 9-7-2 record in such games. Two of those nine wins came on touchdowns, while seven were won on field goals.
Among other rule changes proposed were a ban on the infamous “Tush Push” set forth by the Green Bay Packers, as well as a proposal from the Detroit Lions to “eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty for defensive holding and illegal contact.”
If there was a time and place to make the announcement, it would be here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ pursuit and subsequent waiting on Aaron Rodgers is beginning to turn into the Mr. Krabs meme where he is hitting a cowbell, counting how many days the Krusty Krab has been open for 24 hours. “Give it up for Day 20!”
And while the Steelers continue to wait to make things official with the four-time MVP, it seems like they are willing to wait because they know he is going to end up in Pittsburgh. He had the idea of the visit to the team facility, he had a throwing session with DK Metcalf – the writing is on the wall. So why is it taking so long? Well, if there’s one thing Rodgers likes, it’s attention and the possibility of being in the spotlight. And that’s not a shot at him by any means – we all would like to have that and would do the same thing if we were in a similar position. And with that in mind, there is a perfect time and place for Rodgers to announce that he is joining the Steelers.
Rodgers’ good friend, and ESPN host Pat McAfee is hosting a live show in Pittsburgh on April 9th. The show is entitled “Big Night Aht” and is being held at PPG Paints Arena. Rodgers notoriously dislikes certain insiders who share an employer with McAfee, infamously telling Adam Schefter to “lose my number” back in 2023. That in mind, Rodgers would certainly love to break the news himself by McAfee’s side during a big event like this rather than have Schefter or Ian Rapaport be the ones to get the scoop ahead of him announcing it on his own time.
If you want my best guess on how this ends, Rodgers makes a surprise in-person appearance and announces that he intends to sign with the Steelers to be their quarterback in 2025.
The Steelers’ President spoke to reporters at the NFL annual meetings.
The Pittsburgh Steelers continue their long wait for Aaron Rodgers to make his decision. That said, they seem fine with waiting because they know what his decision is. All signs point to Rodgers joining the Steelers.
He met with several decision-makers at the team facility, which was reportedly his idea. During that meeting, Rodgers and Steelers’ brass reportedly discussed things beyond just getting to know one another. He also had a throwing session with Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf. For all intents and purposes, it’s all but decided Rodgers will be a Steeler. If you needed any more evidence of that, Steelers President Art Rooney II said as much while speaking with reporters at the annual NFL meetings.
Rooney says he has a good feeling about Rodgers and that signs “are pointing in that direction” in terms of the four-time MVP signing with the Steelers.
BREAKING: Art Rooney II said he has a good feeling about Aaron Rodgers and the signs are “pointing in that direction” of him signing with Steelers.
Rodgers is coming off a season in which he threw 28 touchdowns to 11 interceptions with the New York Jets. And while he may not be the same player he was even just a few seasons ago when he won his fourth MVP award, he is still in the upper half of starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Who knows? Maybe he has one more great year left in him like Brett Favre did with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009 when he threw 33 touchdowns and led Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game.
