Steelers Host SEC Offensive Player of the Year for Pre-Draft Visit

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson on a top-30 pre-draft visit on Friday.

Aaron Becker |

Updated: Mar 14, 2025

Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 NFL Draft Tennessee Volunteers Dylan Sampson — Running back Dylan Sampson of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. on Nov. 16, 2024 -- Kate Luffman / Tennessee Athletics

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Tennessee running back Dylan Simpson for a top-30 pre-draft visit at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Friday.

Sampson, 20, is believed to be a Day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after rushing for 1,491 yards (5.8 yards per carry) and 22 touchdowns last season at Tennessee. His 2024 campaign broke the school record for single-season rushing touchdowns and earned him first-team All-SEC and SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Sampson’s role continued to grow every year at Tennessee. He had 106 rushes for 604 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns as a sophomore and 58 rushes for 397 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and six touchdowns as a freshman.

The 5-foot-8, 200-pound running back didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he participated in other tests, recording a 35 inch vertical jump, 10-foot-4 broad jump and 13 reps in bench press.

The Steelers are in need of a running back after Najee Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, but Sampson already fits the mold of their other two running backs.

Pittsburgh placed a second-round tender on 5-foot-8, 215-pound Jaylen Warren and signed 5-foot-9, 200-pound Kenneth Gainwell to a free agent contract. That could mean the team will look to add a bigger sized back in the draft.

However, the Steelers are doing their due diligence on all of the options, and rightfully so. Neither Warren nor Gainwell are signed past the 2025 season, so whoever Pittsburgh drafts has a good chance to be the lead back in 2026. That may just turn out to be Sampson.

The Steelers are able to host 30 visitors between now and the 2025 NFL Draft. Sampson was joined on Friday by TCU wide receiver/running back Savion Williams and Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black for pre-draft visits.