2025 NFL Draft Steelers Analysis
Which NFL Draft RB Will Best Replace Najee Harris for Steelers?
During the 2024 season, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris as one of the backs that spent the most time running against a box stacked with defenders.
Harris is gone, having left in free agency for the Los Angeles Chargers. But with the Steelers still not knowing who their starting quarterback is as of the first week of April, and scant few above-average options available, the problem of Steelers running backs facing extra defenders feels likely to remain.
Last season, Harris ran against eight or more defenders in the box 26.6% of the time, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the fifth-most in the entire NFL. Ironically, the back Harris will be replacing with the chargers, Gus Edwards, was No. 1 with 33.7%.
But someone will have to replace Harris with the Steelers, and while Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have the speed and explosiveness to be multi-phase big-play threats, they are not yard-churners in obvious running situations.
The Steelers will likely add to their running back group with a selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, thanks to the team’s need and the fact that it’s one of the deepest and most varied classes of running backs in years.
But which back prospect best fits the Steelers’ need when it comes to replacing Harris’ ability to run when everyone knows it’s coming?
According to Football Insights, there are few solid targets for the Steelers. A the top of the list should be R.J. Harvey of UCF, Damien Martinez of Miami and D.J. Giddens of Kansas State, which where three of the best running backs against stacked boxes last season in college football.
On the other hand, Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State, despite being one of the most physical backs in the draft class, among the worst, along with Michigan’s Kalel Mullings and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson.
All of Giddens, Harvey and Martinez should be available to the Steelers in the late third or fourth round, giving the team plenty of options when it comes to finding a back to replace Harris and also taking care of the team’s other needs earlier in the draft.