Would You Draft a Running Back in Round 1?

Then why did they start him over Warren for three years? Sure, you could chalk 2022 up to a first-rounder in his second season vs. an undrafted free agent, but they stuck with Harris consistently over Warren in 2023 and 2024 as well. They continued to give Harris more carries than Warren. Also, when there was a rare part of a game that Harris wasn't available, they gave his snaps to Patterson instead of a healthy Warren. That tells me that as much as they like Warren, they prefer him in his current role as third-down back who gets the occasional series to himself. What is the alternative explanation? They gave the lesser back more snaps for three years because they wanted to justify the first-round pick of a GM who has been gone most of that time? Come on.

If Smith can't adapt to his personnel, that's on him, not the personnel.

 

I believe Jeanty would be a waste of a draft pick anywhere above the 4th round

At least for the Steelers

 

You answered your own question. Draft capital spent. And UDFA Warren is not good for 300+ carries. Use up your clunker RB before trading it in. You say Warren was healthy but there were a few weeks he played that he obviously wasn't himself. I remember the announcers even saying something about it.

Two OCs and Harris was the same back for both, average. Steelers need better than average.

 

I just want to see him able to get to the edge in the pros. Smith's offense likes outside zone runs, and NFL defenders make it harder to get there (aided at times by our offensive line).

I may be overreacting to Harris' struggles. Skattebo displays better vision and sits lower to the ground, kinda reminds me of a bouncier James Connor.

 

Two offensive coordinators with quarterback play ranging from erratic to poor and shaky offensive lines. Add in the piss-poor receiving corps this past season. Context matters.

It's called a counterclaim. I knew someone was going to make that nonsense argument, which implies that the Steelers sacrificed their best opportunity to win for two seasons. Sorry, but that's crap.

Warren looked like himself in some of those games, especially late in the season, yet they still never started him. They still consistently gave Harris more carries. They didn't even feature him when Harris had to miss most of the first game against the Bengals. He was healthy, but they still didn't trust him with a heavier workload. If Warren really wasn't himself all through the 2024 season, that is even more reason that counting on him to take on a larger role in 2025 is a mistake. It is more evidence that he isn't durable enough to take on that workload.

 

Not my claim at all. I'm saying Harris is good for 60 yds/gm when they need 80-100 yards. Warren isn't a #1 back either but a nice piece as a pass blocker in RPOs.

 

Please don't carry the goalposts around like that. You'll hurt yourself.

We were discussing your dubious claim about why the Steelers continued to start Harris over Warren and give him the ball more if they didn't see him as the better primary back. In that case, your argument does not hold up.

Regarding your new argument, only two running backs in the NFL averaged 100 yards per game this past season, and only five averaged 80. Harris didn't have to be among the top five backs in the league to be worth a little under $7 million for one season.

 

If he was there in the 4th round, then yeah I would draft him.