LOOK: Exciting rookie posts top pictures from Chiefs training camp

Rookie RB Carson Steele shared a series of pictures from #Chiefs training camp on his Twitter account during the team’s day off.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ stable of young running backs is set to be one of the team’s best assets in 2024 as the defending champions seek to win a third-consecutive Super Bowl title.

Among the group’s most intriguing players is rookie Carson Steele, who was a superstar at the college level during stints at Ball State and UCLA before signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in the offseason.

He has already impressed coaches during Kansas City’s practices in St. Joseph and, on the team’s day off, he shared a series of pictures from his first taste of life at Chiefs training camp:

Though Steele faces an uphill battle to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster in the coming season, his upside as a versatile back makes him an excellent candidate to make the Chiefs’ practice squad as a developmental prospect.

Steele will be a key player to watch during Kansas City’s preseason tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.

WATCH: Patrick Mahomes completes insane behind-the-back pass in practice

Check out this video of Patrick Mahomes completing an insane behind-the-back pass to Carson Steele in practice at #Chiefs OTAs.

Patrick Mahomes’ famous behind-the-back passes made another appearance at the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice field as the defending champions worked out Wednesday.

Rookie running back Carson Steele was on the receiving end of the impressive throw, and managed to make a one-handed catch to cap off the exciting play.

Performances like this are common for Mahomes in practice, especially during OTAs and training camp when he can let loose without interfering with Andy Reid’s agenda.

Wednesday’s display of unconventional prowess by Mahomes is sure to be followed up by more impressive showings as Kansas City’s offseason practices continue ahead of training camp in July.

For his part, Steele’s outstanding catch may earn him favor with the Chiefs’ coaching staff, which is sure to appreciate his sure-handedness out of the backfield.

Stay tuned to see what other kinds of unique plays Mahomes makes during the rest of Kansas City’s offseason program this summer.

Former UCLA tailback Carson Steele signs with Kansas City Chiefs

Steele to KC.

The reigning repeat Super Bowl champion Kansas City added an undrafted rookie free agent on Saturday. Carson Steele, the Bruins’ work-horse running back in 2023, signed with the Chiefs after going un-drafted, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. 

Steele, who was projected as a Day 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, fell out of the seventh round and was plucked by Kansas City. Steele, who showed flashes as a receiver on top of his running ability, is a solid pick-up in a relatively underwhelming draft for running backs. 

Given the recent devaluation of running backs in the NFL, as reflected in recent contracts, Steele is a bargain for the Chiefs, who often use tailbacks as receivers.  

Steele will find himself on a depth chart alongside recent breakout star Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and likely the Chiefs other running back selection, TCU’s Emani Bailey. 

But with upside as a three-down player and a big season in the Pac-12 in 2023, Steele, in all likelihood, should carve out a spot along the Kansas City roster.

UDFA rumors: Former UCLA RB Carson Steele to sign with Chiefs

UDFA rumors: Former UCLA running back Carson Steele is signing with the Kansas City #Chiefs

The impact of pre-draft visits goes a long way for players before the stressful weekend. The Kansas City Chiefs held their meetings like many of the other 31 teams around the league, and although some of the players’ names weren’t called at the podium, they still found a home with a team.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Former UCLA running back Carson Steele will sign with Kansas City after going undrafted. Steele was one of the many players who visited Kansas City ahead of the NFL Draft, getting an early indication that there was mutual interest. The Indianapolis native led the MAC in rushing yards in his second season at Ball State before transferring to UCLA.

In 2023, Steele rushed for 847 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Bruins. He is projected to be a hybrid fullback and could be a part of the offense missing from Andy Reid’s system since Michael Burton’s departure.

The Chiefs didn’t draft a running back, so they have Clyde Edwards-Helaire slated as the third-down option and backup to Isiah Pacheco on the depth chart. As a versatile fullback, Steele could earn him a spot on the team, especially if his blocking is up to the task.

For more Chiefs UDFA signings, follow our tracker.

Could 49ers be viewing UCLA RB prospect as potential Kyle Juszczyk replacement?

The 49ers met with an RB prospect who they could be eyeing as a long-term replacement for Kyle Juszczyk.

A key piece of the 49ers’ 2024 draft will be stocking its cupboard with players who might be able to take over for some of their aging stars in the next few seasons. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is one of the players San Francisco needs to start building a long-term contingency plan for, which may help explain part of their interest in UCLA running back Carson Steele.

Steele, who had a virtual meeting with the 49ers according to the Draft Network’s Justin Melo, had a fine career as a running back at Ball State and UCLA. He played in 37 games with 28 starts across three years and posted 3,294 rushing yards with 26 touchdowns on 648 carries. He also hauled in 58 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns.

His pure athleticism doesn’t pop on tape, and he clocked a 4.75 40-yard dash at UCLA’s Pro Day. Those athletic limitations may keep him from being an every-down RB in the NFL. That’s where a transition to fullback (in the way the 49ers use one) may be helpful.

Steele has enough movement skills to line up in different spots the way Juszczyk does, and he has enough juice (no pun intended) with the ball in his hands to be a threat as a receiver the way Juszczyk has been with the 49ers.

It’s not a slam dunk that Steele would be able to make the move to fullback. He measured in at UCLA’s Pro Day two inches shorter and seven pounds lighter than Juszczyk’s listed height and weight. That may be a barrier he can’t clear. Not to mention the nuance that comes with such a position change while also trying to fill the sizable shoes Juszczyk will leave behind whenever he does leave San Francisco.

However, it would make a ton of sense for the 49ers to try and explore options to replace Juszczyk and Steele as a late Day 3 pick or undrafted free agent addition is a good candidate.

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UCLA RB Carson Steele attended Colts local Pro Day

NFL draft prospect and UCLA running back Carson Steele attended the Colts’ local Pro Day. Here is what you need to know.

Among a number of invitees to the Colts’ local Pro Day that was held a few weeks back was UCLA running back Carson Steele, according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

As part of the pre-draft process, each NFL team is able to hold a local Pro Day, where teams invite players who have a “local” tie to the area, whether that be attending college or from a nearby hometown that is within the league-defined parameters that meet the distance criteria.

Steele has good size, measuring in at just over 6-0, and weighs 228 pounds. He recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 7.59, which included a 4.75-second 40-yard dash and a 37.5-inch vertical.

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Steele, who played in the East-West Shrine Bowl, spent his first two seasons playing at Ball State before transferring to UCLA for the 2023 season.

After an impressive 1,500-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2022 with Ball State, Steele rushed for 845 yards with UCLA at 5.1 yards per attempt and six scores. He would rank 10th among all running backs in average yards after contact and tied for 37th in rushes of 10-plus yards.

Steele has some experience as a pass-catcher as well, totaling 69 targets during his three-year playing career, 20 of which came with the Bruins. He scored four total touchdowns and averaged an impressive 8.4 yards per catch during that span. Steele has some experience lining up outside of the backfield, but not a ton.

For a closer look at what Steele can offer, Ian Valentino of Pro Football Network said this about him last fall:

“We don’t often see running backs like Steele. He’s crafty, strong, can take a hit, and keep moving. He has some short-area burst and agility, but he’s also mastered the nuance of being a running back.

“The question is how athletic he is compared to starting NFL backs. He’ll have an NFL role because he continues chugging ahead, and his large frame bodes well for his ability to play all three downs. But will his contact balance and subtle cuts be enough to overcome otherwise middling explosiveness?”

Running back certainly isn’t a position that the Colts have to add to–they have options on the roster behind Jonathan Taylor. But with that backup running back role somewhat up for grabs this summer, there are some unknowns with Tyler Goodson, Trey Sermon, and Evan Hull – largely their overall inexperience – that perhaps results in GM Chris Ballard trying to add a bit more competition to that unit on Day 3 of  the draft.

That isn’t to say Steele would come in and win the RB2 role–development is needed. However, generally speaking, this is a position that potentially could be on the Colts’ radar later in the draft.

On Jordan Reid’s big board, he has Steele ranked as his 271st prospect with a seventh-round grade. Steele could end up signing as an undrafted rookie somewhere as well.

“My first goal is to develop into a starting running back,” Steele told The Draft Network. “Having availability at multiple positions, being able to play at all, and having an impact—that’s my goal for my rookie season. Whether that’s a versatile role in the backfield, at running back, or through special teams, it doesn’t matter to me. I can play on kickoffs as well.

“Those are my main goals. I’m going to acclimate as a rookie. I want to come in and learn.”

UCLA running back Carson Steele receives solid Relative Athletic Score

Carson Steele is making some nice traction ahead of the NFL Draft.

Former UCLA running back Carson Steele looks to be a Day 3 selection for NFL teams in the draft. After a solid year following his transfer from Ball State, Steele graded out nicely in some interesting statistics. Now, the jury is in on his Relative Athletic Score.

The Relative Athletic Score compiles size, explosiveness, agility, and speed based on NFL Combine results to make a composite score of a player’s athleticism.

For Steele’s size, he earned an “elite” grade, for his explosion, he received a “good” grade, for his speed, he received a “poor” grade, and for his agility, he received an “okay” grade. 

Though the Relative Athletic Score does not determine how successful a player will be in the NFL, it helps compare them to current or past players. With a 7.36 score out of 10, Steele’s closest comp was Arian Foster.

Foster, the NFL’s rushing leader in 2010 and a four-time Pro Bowler, is an interesting comparison. Both Steele and Foster are solid runners with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

The Relative Athletic Score is no crystal ball, but for teams looking to add a two-way running back to their roster, Steele’s parallel to Foster could have teams excited to draft in the former Bruin.

UCLA running back Carson Steele flaunts interesting stat

UCLA RB Carson Steele has a few interesting stats as he prepares for the NFL.

The NFL Draft is just around the corner, and a recent metric could help the cause of one former UCLA player who just returned from the East-West Shrine Bowl. 

Running back Carson Steele, who combined for 1,010 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns in 2023, is a projected late-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But a recent graphic showcases Steele’s unique skillset and ability to avoid tacklers.

In a post by Football Insights, an X account that dives deep into neglected statistics and analysis, Steele ranked as one of the best running backs in the NCAA for rush yards after contact, receiving yards, and missed tackles per game.

Steele ranks above fellow 2024 NFL Draft prospects like Blake Corum and lags only slightly behind first-round pick from 2023, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Though the statistics can only say so much about a player, they could help bolster his draft stock as he approaches the NFL Draft. These statistics, at the very least, show that Steele is a dynamic runner with the ability to make defenders miss and rack up yards after contact.

Considering most NFL teams are looking for a player who can do it all out of the backfield, Steele could be a steal on draft day for one lucky franchise.

Biggest snub from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine at each position

Biggest snub from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine at each position

Even though there are more prospects invited to the yearly scouting combine than there are draft slots, there are always players not invited who feel like they should be in Indianapolis. That’s true for the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, which begins the final week in February.

The league invited 321 prospects to the annual event, the biggest week on the NFL’s offseason calendar. The full list of 321 prospects who were invited to Indianapolis is available via NFL.com.

It’s tough to find some snubs at a few positions without bit nitpicky, but there are some worthy candidates to be drafted in April who won’t be at the combine in Indianapolis. Here’s the biggest snub at each position group.

 

2024 NFL draft: 6 offensive players for Chargers to watch at East-West Shrine Bowl

Here are six offensive players to keep an eye on for the Chargers at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Draft season kicks into high gear next week, with both the East-West Shrine Bowl and Reese’s Senior Bowl scheduled to be played in the following days. These events are widely regarded as the official beginning of draft season for NFL teams and media.

Here are six offensive players to keep an eye on for the Chargers in Frisco, TX.