The Pittsburgh Steelers have been lacking a running back capable of carrying the load since Le’Veon Bell left. This is why I believe the team needs to select a running back early in this year’s draft. Drafting is a crapshoot no matter how you look at it — but the deeper the draft goes, especially at the skill position, the more questions there are about talent and durability.
The Steelers have taken an RB over the last three drafts. They were selected the third round (James Conner, 2017), the fifth round (Jaylen Samuels, 2018), and the sixth round (Benny Snell, Jr., 2019). Of the three — injuries notwithstanding — Conner has the most complete game.
On a conference call with Pittsburgh press last week, general manager Kevin Colbert had this to say about their running back position: “It’s our job to make sure we have options and alternatives and competition. That will be what we’ll be working on.”
This comment leads me to believe that the alternatives and competition Pittsburgh wants doesn’t currently exist on the roster.
If I had to guess, the Steelers will show Conner the door in 2021. Before that happens, they’ll want to have some new, young blood who can immediately make an impact.
Some mock drafts have shown Florida State’s Cam Akers still available at No. 102. Should that happen, I say pull the trigger. With 3,361 all-purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns, Akers had a history-making career with the Seminoles. He declared early, so there are only three seasons of tread on those tires and also has a clean slate injury-wise.
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