Steelers to Host Sleeper Running Back on Pre-Draft Visit

The NFL Combine week is nearly wrapped up and in the books but the Steelers still have plenty of work to be done in regards to draft preparation. It appears that they aren’t wasting any time either. According to Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report, the Steelers have a top-30 visit scheduled with Washington running back Dillon Johnson.

After transferring to the west coast for his senior season, Johnson finished his college career on a high note. In 2023, he amassed 1,189 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for one the countries top offenses, helping the squad reach the college football playoff. He’s currently the #161 player on the consensus board, firmly putting him on the day three radar.

If you’re wondering how such a productive player without much wear and tear doesn’t have much hype surrounding him, it’s in part due to the fact that he’s not an overwhelmingly athletic player. While in Indianapolis, his testing numbers were disappointing, especially in comparison to his peers. It’s worth noting that he did suffer an injury late in the season which could have affected his preparation and performance.

Dillon Johnson is a RB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 4.13 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1025 out of 1745 RB from 1987 to 2024.

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— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 2, 2024

It’s true that this running back class lacks top end talent but it does have some nice complimentary pieces later in the draft, with Johnson being one of those guys. He’s a well-rounded player, who is patient with the ball, displays soft hands as a receiver and is a competent pass blocker. The latter part is especially important because that trait is often what keeps young backs off the field early on.

With Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren both returning in 2024, the Steelers have greater needs to address. However, it shouldn’t be a surprise if they do indeed add another back to the mix on day three.