Congrats Najee Harris

Completely agree, not hard to see.

Najee's a prince for 3 games a year... a toad for 14.

 

How many games did Warren stand out? If he was as good as you hype him up to be then you wouldn't be talking about trading up for another RB .

 

Warren hasn't started a single game in his career. He's stood out in plenty of games, referenced by his career YPC that is nearly a yard longer than Najee, and different calls from local and national media of the "offense looking different/better with 30 out there instead of 22" (which, is true). The only problem is that Warren has received 7 attempts per game in his career and Najee's gotten over 16. Its not that Warren hasn't looked good when he's been in (nearly 5 ypc for his career), its just that we've refused to feature him. I get that we were hoping that Najee would finally break out and look like a RB that was worthy of a first round pick, but he never did. He was just a toad the whole time, and we look dumb for having featured him so extensively. It undoubtedly hurt an offense that was in need of someone that could create for themselves.

And I said I'd trade up ahead of Denver for Jeanty (if he fell that far, which is unlikely), not just any RB. I'd gladly stand pat at 21, let Denver take Jeanty, and take Treyveon Henderson at 21 instead. It would benefit our offense immensely. I think either of them have a legit chance of being an electric top 5 RB in the league, and just because I want an explosive RB in the draft, it doesn't mean I don't like Warren (I do) or don't think Warren isn't better than Najee (I do). This team needs offensive weapons if we ever hope to score points. Detroit has a pretty good thing going on in their backfield, IDK why we couldn't emulate that with Warren and Henderson. Get ourselves a real #2 WR in FA and we might actually have something on offense for a change.... It doesn't matter how good our defense is if we can't move the ball or score any points. Simple as that.

 

I like Treyveon, but no way would I take him at 21. There are simply too many better players on the board there.

 

It's fair that you don't like him as much as I do, but I've seen a lot of the player (for a number of years) and just don't agree. I think Henderson is going to give someone a Jahmyr Gibbs type player pretty immediately. He's so well rounded. He's got elite burst, home run speed, hard to take down in space, polished blocker and pass catcher... he just brings everything to the table. The thing I love about him is that when he gets to the second level, that first player that tries to get him in space (LB or S usually) never gets him. He obviously played on a highly talented team, but he made a lot for himself too.

TBH I am high enough on him that he is likely BPA at 21. Outside of Jeanty falling, Will Johnson being available, and maybe Kenneth Grant dropping to us... I think he'd be the highest rated player on my board at 21 when we're on the clock.

 

For me he's too much of a risk there. Part of Henderson's profile is his boom/bust potential, from individual plays - where he possesses the burst and speed to break off a chunk play but also the tendency to hesitate when blocks break down, resulting negative plays - to durability questions over whether he could withstand being a feature back (he only handled north of 175 touches once in his college career, and missed time in both 2022 and '23).

He's an exciting player, and should make a good player, but I just don't see him as the BPA there. It's fine that you do though.

 

Fair enough. I can agree boom/bust on any individual play... but I don't think he is a boom/bust prospect. Personally, I think he probably has the highest floor of any back not named Jeanty. He is too good at everything a modern back needs to do. He has a Jahmyr Gibbs/Marhsall Faulk-type ceiling and a Chase Brown floor (I like Brown as a player a lot).

 

The Steelers have bigger needs to be drafting Jeanty or Henderson in rounds 1 or 2. Najee is a power back 16 carries a game is nothing, a RB like that needs 20-25 carries a game to be more effective with a better OL.

 

few RB's have a style that fits the not blocking scheme of our OL (Barry Sanders is the only one).

 

You have a valid point so the way to help the OL is with speed at RB and at QB .. Better WRS , PA passes misdirection , screens, swing passes,pass catching TE not do it all types..

Stop running slow developing plays stop asking RBS and TES to stay in and block ,its time to get those guys involved in the passing Tree give the QB more guys to get open , F trying to get him more time its simply not going to happen with this group..

 

This has been my problem. Just like any other position, and I would say moreso with rb, reps matter. The repetition conditions your body and mind. It keeps you loose, gets you into the rythym of the game, and getting hit a few times, sharpens your eyes and decision making. How is a guy supposed to do that when he averages maybe one carry per possession, per game? He sometimes sits on the bench for 20 minutes or more, then comes in for a play or two, then gone again. That's hard to do.

 

We are forgetting about the other RB position FB.

I really hope the Steelers can bring in a good blocking FB this year and not just somebody's brother again.

 

There is no such thing as the other RB position blocking FB so we are not forgetting it

Please review the attached link

https://www.steelers.com/team/depth-chart/

 

His first couple years were pretty dang good. It’s just been the last 2 years he’s looked a little bit like he’s slowing down. That could also be the defense stacking the box because we have absolutely nothing at QB. I’m not that big on Warren. I think he gets to come in and bust a nice run here and there because Najee has already put in the work.

 

In fairness, the main thing that makes him boom/bust is the health factor. If he's able to endure the rigors he's got all the tools to be a plus RB in the pros.

 

That is true. Jaylen Warren has gotten 10 carries or more in only 12 games in his career. He's averaged 5.1 YPC in those games and scored 4 of his 6 career rushing TD's in that time. Would be nice to see if he could get something going if we gave him a bigger role. The game logs suggest that he might be able to.

 

True, but a broken bone in his foot and an undisclosed upper body injury (concussion?) aren't necessarily injuries I'm worried about being a lingering issue. It's not like he's had multiple ACL surgeries or something. Obviously the 5 games he missed his Sophomore year from the foot is most concerning, but the 3 his junior year less so. He played full seasons his freshman and senior year (senior year was an extended 16 games too). I think he has a good shot of not being perpetually injured. At 5'10'' 210 lbs. its not like he's too small to get hit in the NFL (he's listed only 8lbs. less than Judkins, who is a powerful runner). We wont have to worry like he's Devon Achane or something at 5'9'' 180 lbs. He's a pretty compact guy.

 

Harris faced more stacked boxes in 2024 than he did in any of his first three seasons.

 

The way injuries wrecked most of his 2024 season suggests the opposite. Warren is great in his current role, but his body type and professional track record suggest he cannot hold up to the sort of workload Harris has had in his career.

 

Funny, I can remember the exact same stuff mentioned when the Steelers let James Connor leave.

2021 Connor as a backup 15 TDs and Najee's Rookie year 7 TDS
2022 Connor as a starter 4.3 yards per carry and Najee 3.8 yards per carry
2023 Connor as a starter 5.0 yards per carry and Najee 4.0 yards per carry
2024 Connor as a starter 4.6 yards per carry and Najee 4.1 yards per carry

Sometimes people just assume something is there when it is not.

I am all for keeping Najee, but you have to wonder, what would have happened if the Steelers had just kept James Connor??? Another Pitt player that was shown the door too early?
Super Bowl winner Kenny Pickett says Hello!

 

Now compare how many games missed between Conner and Najee in that time, it probably helps Conner that his QB is also a good runner.

 

Average per carry doesn't tell us anything about durability. If anything, your post shows why the Steelers are probably repeating the same mistake they made with Conner, letting a good back walk to save a few bucks and ending up with the lesser player. Of course, the difference is that Harris doesn't have an injury history anything like Conner's. Conner missed time every season he was with the Steelers, including a total of 12 games over his final three seasons in Pittsburgh.

That said, Conner had at least proven he could carry a lead back's workload. Warren hasn't done that. He struggled to stay healthy while in a far more limited role.