All-Pro Fullback Visiting with Steelers
After being released by the San Francisco 49ers, free-agent All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk is meeting on Thursday with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Steelers currently don’t have a fullback on their roster, but they have used tight end Connor Heyward in that role at times.
Juszczyk has been the gold standard at the fullback position over the last decade. He has made nine consecutive Pro Bowls as a fullback and is coming off a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024.
He caught 19 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed five times for 26 yards and a touchdowns. Juszcyzk turns 34 years old in April, but there have been no signs of decline. He was named first-team All-Pro and received second-team All-Pro honors in 2024. It just came down to money in San Francisco and he ended up being a cap casualty.
Releasing Juszczyk saved the 49ers more than $2.9 million against the cap but leaves behind $3.57 million in dead money.
The Steelers placed a second-round tender on Jaylen Warren and signed Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell to a free agent contract. It’s also likely that the Steelers will draft a running back. Cordarrelle Patterson remains on the roster, as well.
There’s certainly a lot of versatility in the backfield and adding Juszczyk into the mix would be a nice added piece. Arthur Smith loves to utilize two tight end and two running back sets (22 personnel), so Juszczyk would be an ideal fit in his offense.
Over the past six seasons, the Steelers have the lowest per-carry average in the league. Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes Pittsburgh must first fix that if it hopes to ever be successful on offense again. Signing Juszczyk could help the Steelers bolster the run game.
“Learn how to run the football better. First, let me be very clear. Pittsburgh, respectfully, last six seasons, you’re the worst running football team in the NFL, 3.9 yards per carry. You have lost your identity as an organization,” Orlovsky said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “I don’t care who the quarterback is. Until you fix that, it won’t matter.”