Pittsburg, PA
Study: Which Draft-Eligible Running Backs Can Pittsburgh Trust Most?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a need to fill at running back, and the 2025 draft class has plenty of quality players at the position. Pittsburgh prides itself as an offense that takes care of the football, with avoiding fumbles as a rusher obviously part of that equation.
Today, I wanted to provide and examine 2024 fumble rates for draft RBs who were at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, including rush attempts for quantity context:
For starters, we see that one player stood out from the pack negatively: Texas RB Jaydon Blue. While he is a big-play threat who would be refreshing to see pan out in Pittsburgh, the Steelers’ priority in taking care of the football doesn’t ideally align with him on paper. A whopping five fumbles was most of all 31 qualifiers, on just 135 carries (26th).
If the Steelers choose matching speed, two other players with sub 4.4 40-yard dash times were SMU’s Brashard Smith and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo. They didn’t top the fumble rates, instead landing closer to the mean on above-average attempts last season. All three project as Day 2/3 prospects, where most expect Pittsburgh to address the position.
Three players land on the top right with no fumbles in 2024. Kyle Monangai of Rutgers had the most carries of them (256, sixth), followed by Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson (240, seventh) and Oregon’s Jordan James (233, eighth). As anticipated, the Steelers have shown interest in all three. Though he has less athleticism, Johnson fits the mold of past Steelers lead backs best.
This would likely require the highest draft investment, but Pittsburgh lacks a second-round pick (currently) where several expect him to go. Speaking of early projections, a few stand out. North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton had only one fumble on the fourth-most attempts (281), ranking eighth in fumble rate, impressively.
The Steelers have also eyed Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson of Ohio State. Both land on the top left of the visual, with plus fumble rates on lesser opportunities in their committee backfield. Important context and matches the role they’d play in the Steel City. I’d vote Hampton or Judkins, both of whom are big backs with respectable speed.
Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks also had an above-the-mean fumble rate, but on much more volume (third-most carries). Interestingly, Pittsburgh hasn’t shown much interest to date, but I like him as a later-round option.
Four players complete the above-average results: Syracuse’s Lequint Allen Jr., Kansas’ Devin Neal, Clemson’s Phil Mafah, and UCF’s RJ Harvey. Mafah has the Steelers’ attention most and also maxed the scales at the position at 234 pounds. However, speed and lack of athletic testing are a concern for the Day 3 prospect.
Here’s the complete list of players with positive fumble rates but below-average carries: Henderson, Judkins, Michigan’s Kalel Mullings, USC’s Woody Marks, Miami’s Damien Martinez, Delaware’s Marcus Yarns, and Ole Miss’ Ulysses Bentley IV. The linked players are largely late-round projections, with Martinez arguably a worthy Day 2 pick.
Players on the bottom right of the visual (high volume, below-average fumble rates) didn’t stray too far from the mean, encouragingly. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is this year’s top RB prospect, and he led the group with a whopping 375 attempts (second place was 294). Four fumbles, though, landed him just below the mean among his peers.
Here’s the rest of that list: Skattebo, Smith, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson, and Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner. The latter was barely above the average number of attempts (204), seemingly an undrafted possibility. Skattebo and Sampson project higher than Smith (Day 3).
In regard to this article, here is the list of players you’d want to avoid (low attempts, high fumble rate):
Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II
Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter
South Carolina’s Rocket Sanders
Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten
Arkansas’ Ja’Quinden Jackson
Georgia’s Trevor Etienne
Michigan’s Donovan Edwards
Texas’ Jaydon Blue
Gordon, Tuten, and Blue have garnered the most Steelers interest of this tier. They each have nice traits, but fumble rate from their 2024 season isn’t one of them, and I would avoid them with stacked depth in this RB class.
For context, former Steelers RB Najee Harris had 252 attempts and two fumbles his final college season. That would’ve landed him at seventh in carries and 16th in fumble rate in this study. Jaylen Warren remains in Pittsburgh and had a very comparable 256 attempts with two fumbles. This may suggest that running backs with average fumble rates (or better) may be who Pittsburgh targets.
To close, I will list those players once again in order of various projections: Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Devin Neal, RJ Harvey, Damien Martinez, Kalel Mullings, Kyle Monangai, Tahj Brooks, Marcus Yarns, LeQuint Allen Jr., Jordan James, Woody Marks, Phil Mafah, and Ulysses Bentley IV.
While fumbles are just one piece of the puzzle, it’s an important one to how Pittsburgh plays. I personally hope the Steelers select one from this list and can’t wait to see how it pans out later this month.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.
Advertisement
-
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
-
Remember Bucs Dugout is basically a non-profanity site
-
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
-
The commenting system was updated during the summer. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.
BD community, this is your thread for today’s game against the Rays. Enjoy!
It’s only fitting that one of the most eventful offseasons in Pittsburgh Steelers history will be capped by an equally unpredictable NFL draft. Owning 12 picks, including five in the top 100 for the first time since 1999, GM Omar Khan has a chance to radically change the franchise’s trajectory in front of a home crowd in Pittsburgh.
Last time they held five picks in the top 100, the Steelers found a couple very good long-term starters like OLB Joey Porter Sr. and DE Aaron Smith. But they also struck out on WR Troy Edwards, DB Scott Shields, and OT Kris Farris.
At a pivotal, transitional phase in franchise history, the Steelers can’t afford to find just two good starters. That may be a challenge in a draft lacking top-end talent that falls off a cliff in the later rounds. If they are out of range of coveted players, they can’t be timid in the trade market.
I posed the question on this week’s episode of The Depot Dive: Over or under 2.5 trades for the Steelers? I wanted to take the over, but it’s hard to make that work without a trade down. I settled on two.
All that said, here’s my best attempt at predicting what the Steelers will do in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Round One (12th Overall) – Spencer Fano/OL/Utah – 6054, 311 pounds
Trade: Steelers send Patrick Queen + Pick No. 21 + Pick No. 121 + Pick No. 224. Cowboys send Pick No. 12 + 2027 sixth-round pick.
If they want Vega Ioane or Fano, I think it will require a move up. But I don’t think the Steelers will want to sacrifice a lot of picks to accomplish that. Queen is an easy target with the Cowboys having reported interest in trading for him during free agency.
Using our Dave Bryan’s trade idea as a loose template, I like the Steelers to jump up in the first round to solidify the trenches once again. This is the best move for the current—which we know the Steelers place a heavy emphasis on—and the future as they lock in a potentially elite offensive line for the next decade.
It’s a bonus that Fano can play guard now — and potentially tackle later if Broderick Jones or Dylan Cook don’t work out. Fano is Dane Brugler’s top OL in the class. If he makes it to 12, I like the value a lot.
Others Considered: OG Vega Ioane, WR Makai Lemon, TE Kenyon Sadiq
Spencer Fano Scouting Report
Round Two (53rd Overall) – Jacob Rodriguez/ILB/Texas Tech – 6013, 231 pounds
Trading Queen creates a need that outweighs others (like wide receiver). Maybe Rodriguez doesn’t fall this far, but he should be the Steelers’ top target if he does.
As a former quarterback, Rodriguez has a unique football IQ that could be a force multiplier for the entire Steelers defense–something Patrick Queen never really turned into. I witnessed it firsthand at the Senior Bowl. He got everybody aligned correctly pre-snap in an environment where all had to learn a new defense in just a few days.
He’s also the most decorated defensive playmaker coming out of college in decades, even more than Payton Wilson’s impressive list of accolades from a couple years ago. This would be a home-run pick.
Others Considered: WR Denzel Boston, ILB CJ Allen, S Treydan Stukes
Jacob Rodriguez Scouting Report
Round Two (59th Overall) – Germie Bernard/WR/Alabama – 6012, 206 pounds
Trade: Steelers send No. 76 + No. 99. Texans send No. 59.
Another move up to make sure the Steelers get a receiver they like at the end of the second round. Bernard was a pre-draft visitor and has the size and athletic profile that Mike McCarthy likes at the position. He does everything well, and played a healthy mix of slot and outside receiver to fit in the rotation with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
Others Considered: WR Zachariah Branch, WR Chris Bell, ILB Jake Golday
Germie Bernard Scouting Report
Round Three (85th Overall) – Kamari Ramsey/S/USC – 6002, 202 pounds
Not every selection will be a pre-draft visitor, and Ramsey fits the description of the type of defensive back the Steelers have looked at. He has played a strong mix of safety and nickel and is capable of being a chess piece in Patrick Graham’s defense. Given the Steelers’ crowded secondary, he could focus on backing up Jalen Ramsey at free safety in the beginning.
Others Considered: S Jalen Kilgore, OG Keylan Rutledge, QB Drew Allar
Kamari Ramsey Scouting Report
Round Four (135th Overall) – Carson Beck/QB/Miami (FL) – 6046, 233 pounds
The Steelers have spent too much time scouting quarterbacks not to take one. And Beck has several traits they are looking for, including his track record as a winner and his size at nearly 6-5. Their view of Mike McCarthy as a QB whisperer suggests they will give him as many projects as possible until one sticks.
Others Considered: CB Tacario Davis, QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Ja’Kobi Lane
Carson Beck Scouting Report
Round Five (161st Overall) – Ephesians Prysock/CB/Washington – 6033, 196 pounds
Prysock has all the traits to turn into an impact starter, and the Steelers have gravitated toward th long, rangy athletes at cornerback. He wouldn’t need to see the field right away with a crowded stable of defensive backs, but he has plenty of long-term upside.
Others Considered: WR/KR Kendrick Law, WR Josh Cameron, S Michael Taaffe
Ephesians Prysock Scouting Report
Round Six (216th Overall) – Kaden Wetjen/WR-KR/Iowa – 5090, 193 pounds
Calvin Austin III and Kenneth Gainwell both departed in the offseason, which means the Steelers need a kick and punt returner. Wetjen is the top return specialist in the draft with six total return touchdowns in college.
Others Considered: OT Aamil Wagner, CB Thaddeus Dixon, WR Caleb Douglas
Kaden Wetjen Scouting Report
Round Seven (230th Overall) – Josh Cuevas/TE/Alabama – 6033, 245 pounds
Cuevas is versatile enough to be a rotational backup tight end, and to play H-back or fullback in certain personnel packages. He’s a committed and aggressive blocker and has enough receiving skills to be a dependable option on passing downs, either running routes or blocking.
Others Considered: DL David Gusta, RB Jaydn Ott, TE Matthew Hibner
Josh Cuevas Scouting Report
Round Seven (237th Overall) – Brett Thorson/P/Georgia – 6012, 237 pounds
The Steelers brought back Cameron Johnston, but they didn’t even keep him over Corliss Waitman after last year’s training camp competition. Johnston is 34 years old and has dealt with injuries in each of the last two seasons. Thorson has a relationship with Johnston as a fellow Aussie, so it could be a decent pairing for another training camp competition this year.
Others Considered: WR CJ Daniels, QB Sawyer Robertson, TE John Michael Gyllenborg
Brett Thorson Scouting Report
A United flight traveling from Chicago to New York City diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday afternoon for what was described as a “reported threat.”
According to information provided by the Allegheny County Airport Authority and FBI Pittsburgh, United Flight 2092 diverted to Pittsburgh and landed safely.
The passengers have deplaned safely, and no injuries have been reported.
“The plane was diverted and landed at Pittsburgh International Airport,” FBI Pittsburgh said in a statement provided to KDKA-TV. “All passengers and crew safely evacuated the aircraft. FBI Special Agent Bomb Techs and Special Agents are on the ground coordinating with local authorities.”
The airport authority has said that law enforcement is on the scene and investigating.
This is a developing story, and will be updated.
-
Movie Reviews6 minutes agoFILM REVIEW: ROSE OF NEVADA – Joyzine
-
World18 minutes ago
Oil prices rise anew after a US-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz strands tankers
-
News24 minutes agoVideo: 8 Children Killed in Louisiana Shooting, Police Say
-
Culture60 minutes agoPoetry Challenge: Memorize “The More Loving One” by W.H. Auden
-
Lifestyle1 hour agoPhotos: How overfishing in Southeast Asia is an ecological and human crisis
-
Technology1 hour agoBlue Origin successfully reused its New Glenn rocket
-
World1 hour agoDistress call captures tanker under fire, Iran shuts Hormuz trapping thousands of sailors
-
Politics1 hour agoTrump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
