Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Room Is Crowded
Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Room Is Crowded originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
In a Pittsburgh Steelers offseason dominated by talk about a quarterback who's not even on the roster, the team has other pressing needs.
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A swap of wideout George Pickens for DK Metcalf via a couple of separate trades brings renewed hope to the passing game, assuming they can ever find someone to throw the ball.
But after Pittsburgh let last season's leading rusher, Najee Harris, walk in free agency, there are question marks surrounding the running game.
Jaylen Warren returns on a one-year, $5.3 million deal after rushing for 511 yards on 120 carries and one touchdown last season behind Harris as the team's second-leading rusher. He was expected to inherit the starting job.
But Pittsburgh drafted Iowa's Kaleb Johnson in the third round earlier this month, and he seems to fill Harris' shoes better than Warren. Johnson is bigger than both Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, who the team picked up in free agency.
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General manager Omar Khan also signed Trey Sermon this offseason and Cordarrelle Patterson returns for Year 2, making the running back room quite crowded. There will only be so many snaps to split in the running game this year, so there could be an odd man (or two) out.
Most believe either Sermon or Patterson could be cut before the regular season starts.
Patterson was signed last offseason after the NFL changed the kickoff rules, but he was less than impressive on offense and special teams. A trio of Johnson, Warren and Gainwell would suffice nicely behind Rodgers ... sorry ... I mean, whoever is under center for the Steelers, making the others expendable.
As the team approaches the rest of the offseason, a couple of these players could be trying out for jobs on other teams.
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Related: Steelers Trade Rumors Swirl as WR Emerges at OTAs
Related: Steelers QB Mason Rudolph Offers Will Howard 'Tools' Scouting Report
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
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