This is the first in a series on the upcoming NFL Draft, which will take place April 28 through 30. Today: The running backs
There was a mixed bag of reviews for the Steelers' first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, running back Najee Harris.
On one hand, some view taking a running back in the first round as a wasted pick. After all, analytics show to some degree that good running backs can be acquired at any point in the draft or even after it.
But for the Steelers, Harris was a player they coveted not just for what he would do on the field, but off it and in their locker room, as well. With Ben Roethlisberger retiring, the Steelers wanted a player who could step into a leadership role and make things easier on their quarterback of the future.
And Harris proved to be a workhorse in his rookie season. In 17 games, he had 307 carries for 1,200 yards with seven rushing touchdowns. He also had 74 receptions for another 467 yards, as his 381 total touches led the NFL.
It was a heavy workload for the rookie, as no other Steelers running back had more than 38 touches.
A big reason for that is because Harris never wants to come off the field. But the Steelers also didn't have a lot of confidence in the running backs behind Harris, as well.
With Roethlisberger now officially retired and Mitch Trubisky in his place, the team figures to be more reliant on the running game moving forward. But to do that, it would make sense to upgrade the roster behind Harris to lighten the load on their primary runner.
The Steelers might go the veteran route to do so, but they could also look to the draft to take a shot at finding a nice 1-2 punch to pair with Harris and lessen his load.
Benny Snell returns, but is better suited to be a third back and special teams player, while Anthony McFarland hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to prove he is the change-of-pace runner the Steelers thought he could be when they selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft.
One player the Steelers could look to as a potential backup or someone to pair with Harris could be his former running mate at Alabama, Brian Robinson.
Robinson, a 6-2, 225-pound bruiser who also ran a solid 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, is cut from the same cloth as Harris, whom he backed up in 2020 for the Crimson Tide.
Robinson bided his time at Alabama, not starting a single game in his first four seasons. But last season, with Harris in the NFL, Robinson took over as the Crimson Tide's lead runner and posted 1,343 yards on 271 carries with 14 touchdowns. He also caught 35 passes for 296 yards and two scores.
Backing up Harris wouldn't be much of a stretch for Robinson. In 2020, he had 483 yards on 91 carries playing second fiddle to the Steelers' future star running back.
Like Harris, who also didn't become a full-time starter until his final year at Alabama, Robinson felt he benefitted from staying in school rather than turning pro after his fourth season.
“At the time, I just felt like that was the best decision for me to try to come back to school and create value for myself and just create more film and show people that I can do a lot more,” Robinson told reporters recently. “That was the biggest deal for me, so that went into my decision to come back.”
Robinson should be available in the middle rounds if the Steelers choose to dip into the draft to find another runner.
Others in that area of the draft that could intrigue the Steelers include Dameon Pierce of Florida or James Cook of Georgia, the younger brother of the Vikings' Dalvin Cook.
In later rounds, speedster Pierre Strong of South Dakota State, who ran a 4.37 at 207 pounds at the Combine, Snoop Conner of Ole Miss, Jerome Ford of Cincinnati or Bam Knight of N.C. State could all help out.
Lolley's Running Back Rankings
1. Breece Hall, Iowa State (5-11, 217)
2. Kenny Walker, Michigan State (5-9. 214)
3. Zamir White, Georgia (6-0, 214)
4. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M 6-0, 217)
5. Brian Robinson, Alabama (6-2, 225)
6. Dameon Pierce, Florida (5-10, 218)
7. Kevin Harris, South Carolina (5-10, 221)
8. James Cook, Georgia (5-11, 199)
9. Pierre Strong, South Dakota State (5-11, 207)
10. Abram Smith, Baylor (6-0, 213)
