If the Steelers move on from Najee Harris this guy plays like a Pittsburgh Steelers

Sounds like he's on the radar.
https://steelersdepot.com/2025/01/arkansas-rb-jaquinden-jackson-had-a-great-conversation-with-steelers-at-east-west-shrine-bowl/

 

Big back, Can he pass block, can he receive, how is his ball security?
These are a must that would have to be checked off if I am
looking for a rb.

 

I looked up his strength and weaknesses on the NFL draft network. First of all he is a converted QB who has only been a RB for 3 seasons, so he isn't polished in route running, following the block and pass blocking. What helps him being a former QB is that he has great field vision. The report said that he is a willing pass blocker and with his size can be a very effective one. He only caught 14 passes last season so he isn't very experienced at that. Also he will be 24 when the season starts and only runs a 4.60 forty. His strength is that he is a very powerful runner that is quick hitting the hole and has great field vision once he breaks through the line.

 

Yeah , definitely not a finished product but that's why he's a later round pick. We're gonna need two rb's with Harris going, and I doubt Patterson is back. He's toast.

I wouldn't be surprised if he runs a little faster than that. He has plenty of burst to be effective though.

 

This guy averaged 6.3 YPC

 

Tuten is 210 lbs and runs a 4.32! His only weakness is his pass blocking ability and has some trouble with ball security. But he is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and is a top notch kick returner. The NFL draft network said that he could be the steal of the draft on day 3.

 

I like how he doesn't hesitate a lot to get up field. Sticks his foot in the ground and gets North/South. Definitely looks like he could be a good 3rd down back/KR type guy in the league.

 

As of 1-31-25 we happen to have (1) third round choices at 83 and a 4th at 122. As we have seen with Warren a 215 pd back has hard time staying on field. With Arthur Smith's supposedly
run heavy offense Warren will never hold up toting the rock 20 times a game. A Rb is needed.

 

The talking heads are saying there 30-35 draftable RBs in this draft, I hope the Steelers wait until the 4th round to pick one and address other needs.

 

I really hope we take one early (2nd or 3rd round at the latest). There are a lot of draftable RB's, but we lacked a game breaker. If we want to simply replace Najee with another Najee... we can wait to day 3 for that. There will be plenty of NFL capable backs that go day 3. But if we want someone that can change our offense into a more dynamic unit, we HAVE to get that guy on day 2. True difference makers don't last that long. A few slip through the cracks, but we can't just sit on our hands here.

Look at the top RB's in the league. Saquon, CMC, Henry, K. Williams, Bijan, Taylor, Jacobs, Gibbs... All but Kyren are first or second round RB's. Sometimes Kyren Williams or Aaron Jones finds their way into the 3rd day of the draft then becomes a really good player, but that isn't often. Bucky Irving and Chuba Hubbard both have a shot at vaulting themselves into relevance, but the reality is that day 1 and day 2 backs rule the position at the top of the list, and with the way modern offenses operate, that is going to continue.

We'd be absolute morons to sell the position to later in the draft. There's no excuse to leave day 2 of the draft without a RB.

 

But I thought Warren was our number1?

 

Yeah, I like Warren a lot... That doesn't mean you don't draft someone that we think could be elite? We don't have anything behind Warren outside of an aging Cordarrelle Patterson, so the room could use an explosive boost.

I am a huge proponent of a more tandem centric guy in TreyVeon Henderson, as him and Warren could be our version of Mongtomery and Gibbs.... We're going to see a lot more Warren regardless in 2025, and I think it is going to bode well for the efficiency of our offense. This is a loaded draft at RB with multiple high end runners being available, and RB's don't last forever. Warren is already 26 believe it or not. Give him an Austin Ekeler/David Montgomery type workload (12-13 carries, 3-4 receptions) and have him and someone like Henderson be an interchangeable duo. It would instantly make our offense more dangerous and if we can manage to get a WR to go with Pickens, there will be a lot more open space for these guys to take advantage of.

 

No one is disputing that a RB will be needed, the dispute lies in whether the Steelers can find one in UDFA or later rounds or high priced 2nd round pick.
This is what the Steelers will have to determine. Is a CB, WR, IDL easier to find than a running back? I don't think so but that is just my opinion.