One of the most exciting picks for the Pittsburgh Steelers from my point of view was the choice of former Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr. in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Snell is one of most underrated backs in the draft and a real throwback player.
But what does a rookie running back mean for a depth chart already containing James Conner and Jaylen Samuels?
First, it means free-agent running back Stevan Ridley isn’t coming back. We have hypothesized Ridley would be the team’s backup plan to be the third running back on the final roster if things didn’t work out in the draft. But Snell changes that and Ridley isn’t coming back.
The addition of Snell also opens up competition for the backup running back spot. We love Samuels and his versatility but Snell is a pounder, a grinder and incredibly productive even when the defense is focused on him. We aren’t sure if we are ready to call for a full-blown training camp battle for the starting running back job but you shouldn’t be shocked if Snell doesn’t force the Steelers coaches to give him a share of the regular-season touches.
