Steelers to Host Versatile Kansas State RB for Pre-Draft Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to host Kansas State running back DJ Giddens on a top-30 visit, according to Justin Melo of the Draft Network. Giddens finished second among running backs at the NFL Combine in the vert (39.5″), broad jump (10’10”) and ran a 4.43.
Melo reports that Giddens had Combine formal interviews with the Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
During his three years at Kansas State, Giddens rushed for 3,087 yards (6.0 average) and 23 touchdowns. He also caught 58 passes for 679 yards (11.7 average) and four touchdowns. Giddens’ 6.0 yards per carry and 11.7 average on receptions illustrates his elusiveness.
The Steelers are in need of a running back after Najee Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, so Giddens could be an ideal pick in the third round. The Steelers don’t have a second-round pick due to the blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahaws for star wide receiver DK Metcalf.
The Steelers placed a second-round tender on Jaylen Warren and signed Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell to a free agent contract. A Warren, Giddens, Gainwell and Cordarrelle Patterson backfield certainly would give the Steelers a lot of versatility.
Gainwell, 25, spent the last four seasons with the Eagles, winning a Super Bowl ring this past February. He originally joined the Eagles as a fifth-round pick out of Memphis in 2021.
He played in 66 games for the Eagles over the last four seasons, primarily serving as a change of pace running back and receiving weapon to players like Saquon Barkley, DeAndre Swift and Miles Sanders.
In his career, he has rushed 280 times for 1,185 yard and 12 touchdowns, maintaining a 4.2 yards per carry average. He’s also caught 102 of 138 targets for 721 yards and another score.
This past season, Gainwell played in all 17 games, rushing 75 times for 290 yards and one touchdown and catching 16 of 22 targets for 116 yards. Against the Steelers in Week 15, he had seven carries for 20 yards and three catches for 40 yards. In four games in the playoffs for Philadelphia, he had 13 carries for 42 yards and three receptions for 26 yards.
STEELERS 2025 PRE-DRAFT VISITOR TRACKER
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel (reported)
Louisville QB Tyler Shough (March 6)
Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues (March 6)
West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum (March 6) (exempt). Kansas State RB DJ Giddens (reported)
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.