The Pittsburgh Steelers may have to rebuild their running back room this offseason with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren both set to become free agents. If that happens, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards believes they could snag the second best running back in the 2025 NFL Draft while also acquiring some extra draft capital.
In his latest mock draft, Edwards has the Steelers trading pick No. 21 to the Los Angeles Rams, who then select Penn State tight end Tyler Warren.
Warren would be a difficult player to pass on after he caught 104 passes for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. He also ran for 218 yards and four more touchdowns.
However, the Steelers have more pressing needs, especially with tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington already rostered. That’s why Edwards has Pittsburgh then selecting North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with pick No. 26.
“After trading back with Los Angeles, the Steelers draft a replacement for Najee Harris,” Edwards writes. “Hampton is the second running back drafted after his standout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.”
Hampton did show out at the Combine, running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and posting a 38-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-10 broad jump. But that isn’t the reason he continues to rise up draft boards.
The 6-foot, 221-pound running back established himself as one of the best overall players in this year’s draft after rushing for 3,164 yards and 30 touchdowns the past two years at North Carolina. He also recorded 67 catches for 595 yards and three touchdowns during the span.
The Steelers are expected to bring back Warren, but that wouldn’t stop them from drafting another running back like Hampton. The 21-year-old brings a very different run style than Warren and the two could complement each other just as Harris and Warren have over the past three years.
