It’s no secret the Steelers’ run game was abysmal in 2020. It’s an aspect of their game that has been lacking for a couple of seasons now. Sticking with a rotation of their current stable would be foolish. Pending free agent James Conner is all but gone, and Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland, nor Jaylen Samuels have not proven starter-worthy.
Only the Steelers know what they’re going to do about it or, at least, attempt to. They could surprise us all and take a running back early in the draft, a move they rarely make. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and first-round backs are typically less of a gamble than a fourth- or fifth-rounder.
The Steelers could also sign a veteran free agent starter — something they haven’t done since DeAngelo Williams in 2015 when Le’Veon Bell was suspended. Free agency officially begins on St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, at 4 p.m. eastern.
Should Pittsburgh find the cap room to add a back via free agency, here are notable pending free-agent running backs:
