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Quarterback obviously looms as a higher priority for the Steelers, who have seen their Aaron Rodgers dance extend beyond a month since an offer emerged. Whether or not the Steelers are souring on the aging great, they are likely to make a notable skill-position addition to play behind Rodgers (or Mason Rudolph, Kirk Cousins or a to-be-determined rookie).
The Steelers protected Jaylen Warren with a second-round tender — one that nearly matches where Najee Harris‘ fifth-year option price would have checked in — and signed Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year, $1.79MM deal ($620K guaranteed). They do not appear to be done, as it looks like the AFC North team will be one of the many aiming to take advantage of this year’s deep running back crop.
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Pittsburgh has done a lot of RB work in preparation for this draft, according to ESPN.com’s Matt Miller, and is expected to add here. The team trading its second-round pick for D.K. Metcalf provides a complication, but Miller pinpoints Rounds 3 and 4 for a potential move. Beyond the big names in this year’s RB class, teams should be able to find value (as opposed to last year, where the position did not impress evaluators).
Beyond Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton and Big Ten standouts Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson and Kaleb Johnson, more quality options could be available by Round 3. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks five more RBs (Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, Kansas’ Devin Neal, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens and Oregon’s Jordan James) between Nos. 62 and 95 in this year’s class. This contingent, along with other potential fourth- or fifth-round options, undoubtedly would have been chosen earlier if available last year, when only one running back (Jonathon Brooks) went in the first two rounds.
Even as this draft is expected to see several backs chosen then, it is much deeper and figures to entice teams that address other needs earlier. That said, the Steelers have hosted Hampton, Henderson and Johnson.
With Warren and Gainwell in contract years, the Steelers should be expected to use this class to add a potential long-term starter. Even if Warren is extended, the team has viewed him as a change-of-pace option rather than surefire starter. The back that arrives will almost definitely push Warren and Gainwell for playing time, while potentially checking in as the Pittsburgh 2026 starter (after the team passed on paying Harris, who signed with the Chargers).
Making their big splash via trade, the Steelers stand to be rewarded with a host of compensatory picks in 2026. OverTheCap projects the team to add third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round comp picks for the free agency exits of Dan Moore Jr., Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and James Daniels. This factored into the Steelers’ spending strategy this offseason, GM Omar Khan said (via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac). Although the Steelers had hoped to cut into this by signing a quarterback, Fields passed on the team’s offer while Rodgers has yet to sign. Rodgers would not affect the Steelers’ compensatory formula anyway, being a street free agent. But the team should receive a significant boost to its draft arsenal by letting two O-line starters and both its top QBs walk.