It seems crazy, I know, but...

What if, somehow, Bijan Robinson were to fall to #32? This probably won't happen, but what if?

If I'm the Steelers, it has to at least cross my mind to get on the phone Thursday night and see what I can get for Najee Harris before Friday night.

Say you could get a team like Saints, who are gonna NEED a rb, to trade you their #40 pick, and maybe a 5th rounder, for Harris? The Saints DO have two 5th rd picks.

You then draft Bijan at #32.

For, essentially, trading down 8 spots in the second rd, you've significantly upgraded(IMO) your running game(with 4 years on a rookie deal), and picked up a 5th rd pick that you don't have.

What would you rather have?

A. Najee Harris, the #32 pick, and no 5th rd pick

B. Bijan Robinson, the #40 pick. and a 5th rd pick(#146)

That's a no brainer for me. I've not been quiet about my disappointment in our 1st rd rb. He's a fine player and a good kid, but the lack of big play ability really holds this offense back, imo. I really hope Warren blossoms this year.

I wrote this in my thread about Harris a few monts ago, but I'll post it in case you missed it earlier. My frustration is apparent.

"In almost 600 carries, our 1st Rd RB has 2 runs over 20 yards. TWO! In 600 carries! Zero over 40. That's almost unheard of! 600 carries?! Two?! A 1st round running back?!"

I also added that Chubb, not a 1st rd pick, over the last two seasons, had 25 rushes over 20 yards. He also out rushed Harris by almost 600 yards on 50 less carries. I also added that Rhamondre Stevenson, a 4th rd pick in Harris' draft, on a rebuilding team, was also far more efficient.

I doubt we could get a 2nd for Harris, but the Saints are kind of desperate, and Harris isn't a bum. He's solid. He just isn't a game breaker.

None of this will happen, but to pretend that we couldn't upgrade over Harris is ridiculous. To think how much more explosive this inexplosive offense could be with a guy that teams fear, a true game breaker, has me seriously considering this if those conditions were to arise.

 

Teams don't like to spend premium draft picks on running backs. They are even less likely to trade those picks for one, because he already has some mileage on his body and it is a shorter period of time before his rookie contract is up.

 

Yes, but he's a proven, solid player. And, you still have 3 years control on him because of the 5th year.

I said that I doubt you could get a second but it doesn't hurt to ask.

They got one for Claypool. Go figure.

 

If Bijan Robinson is still on the board at 32 the phone will be ringing off the hook the entire night.

 

The sybolic narrow mindedness of a lot of the board.

 

Maybe because your trade scenario is really far fetched .

 

Well, Harris isn't the best back in the league... so sure, we could theoretically upgrade from him. However, I do think he is MUCH better than his stats have shown due to playing with the worst OL ever in 2021 and being hurt for the first half of 2022 while playing with a rookie QB. Both years are Canada years too... At the end of the year he was getting TONS of yards that weren't blocked for him. I thought he looked great. This is coming from someone who was frustrated with Harris at the beginning of the season as well. After seeing how the year ended it is clear that the foot was the issue.

Besides, we don't need to have a top RB to have a successful running game. We just need Harris to run like he did at the end of 2023 and have a bit more success through the air as KFP progresses. Each will help the other out.

Even if we did have a scenario present itself, the price to upgrade him would never be worth the amount of upgrade we actually get. Besides, you are absolutely correct in your assessment that no team in their right mind would trade for a RB for an early 2nd and a fifth unless they are getting a Chubb or Henry type on the right side of 27 years old. RB is too unpredictable, easy to replace, and short-lived career-wise to make that kind of move. We'd essentially be trading a solid back for a question mark in Robinson plus moving back 8 spots in a round where we need to find starters and add a pick (5th round) that has probably a 5% chance of ever becoming a regular starter? That seems like an AWFUL trade for us unless Robinson becomes a top 3 back.

Plus we've seen a large number of "can't miss" type backs not be able to hack it in the NFL. There is no guarantee Robinson ends up being as good as Harris. Also Harris is an offensive captain and a young leader on a side of the ball that desperately needs leadership. I couldn't fathom a scenario where it makes any sense at all for us to make a move like this.

 

And horrible value for us unless we hit an absolute home run with Robinson

 

Drafting a Running back in the 1st round was a dumb move. Doubly so when we had a porous line. Triplely so in a bad RB class.

It's was a terrible decision all around. Bijan Robinson is the best back in a great RB class.

I'll leave it there

 

I'm guessing the Texans will not let him leave Texas at pick 12.

 

If you didn't like them taking Pickett in the first round, who did you want in the first round?

 

All the first round worthy tackles were gone by the Steelers pick, at least they didn't reach like the Raiders did and draft a bust like OL Alex Leatherwood.

 

We needed everything at the time. The best Guards and Centers were still available.

I was hoping we traded back and got Dickerson or Jenkins. And push come to shove just take Dickerson there. But a RB was just a terrible choice.

 

People loved Bell...He never had game breaking ability. Go look up his td long. One time 43 yard td. LoL.
Also You don't even know B. Robinson will be good. So You would trade someone that is for someone You are not sure of ....for a 5th round pick??????? LoL.

 

I totally agree, but We did, and to actually watch Najee (not saying You) , and think He is not good....Well .... ....It's a little crazy. IMO. Especially knowing the rebuilding of the line, it's having to come together, and No real fear of the Qbs.
Even crazier some of these same people still backed T. Edmunds up till We let Him walk.

 

It's for a 2nd and 5th. Pick 40 and 146. And he'd replace Najee but drafting Bijan at 32.

I'll take the risk it it was offered. I won't go chasing it but if the other team offered this, I'll take it. It resets the time on resigning our RB.

In short we are trading the 32nd for pick 40 and 146. And then swapping Bijan for Najee. Outside of emotional attachment, I do not see the downside.

 

Jenkins would've been even a worse choice than Najee, he missed time his rookie season, and when he has played he hasn't been that good.

 

Him , or K. Elam

 

I doubt Bijan will last until #32, the rumors are that the Eagles or Cowboys might take him in the first round.