The Pittsburgh Steelers opted this week to refuse RB Najee Harris’ fifth-year option. Pittsburgh’s backfield depth will be tested if he does not re-sign with the Steelers at the end of the season.
Jaylen Warren is the only running back that is currently expected to make the Steelers’ roster. Although he is a restricted free agent, there is a slim chance the Steelers will let him go unless something unusual happens.
Cordarrelle Patterson, a Swiss army knife, inked a two-year contract this summer, but he’ll be 34 years old, and based on his performance last season (181 yards running and 3.6 yards per carry), he’s far from guaranteed to stay.
Enter Daijun Edwards, a former Georgia running back and Steelers UDFA signee. Edwards led the Bulldogs in rushing last season, totaling 880 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games.
new steelers RB daijun edwards has an impressive tape pic.twitter.com/2JsSbZeJys
— ً (@WashingtonBetta) April 29, 2024
At 5’10 and 210 pounds, he’s built like a tank and received high acclaim from his collegiate coach. Coach Kirby Smart addressed media ahead of the draft:
“I’m really proud of Daijun and what he’s become. Here’s a guy who wasn’t even widely recruited, but we accepted him because we knew he was tough as heck, worked hard, and had a fantastic season to help us.”
He’s worth watching for a variety of reasons. First, the assumption that running backs grow on trees is not entirely correct. Jaylen Warren is an outlier.
Running backs grow on trees …
* Benny Snell
* Jaylen Samuels
* Fitz Toussaint
* Dri Archer
* Trey Edmunds
* Anthony McFarland
* Kalen Ballage
* Steven Ridley
* Jordan Todman
* Terrell Watson
* Kerrith Whyte
* Josh Harris
* Tony Brooks-James
* Qadree Ollison
* Wendell Smallwood— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 2, 2024
Second, you wouldn’t want to waste early draft resources on a back. Take a look at the past year. How many times have we stated, “Don’t use a first-round pick on a running back because of the Najee Harris situation?” So, don’t do it in the second or third.
You could say, “Well, they could always sign a running back,” but they will very certainly have to pay one of their quarterbacks, a wide receiver, and others. Both of these rooms are already narrow.
This is not to say that I am defending them for declining Harris’ offer. I believe it is a decent hedge. I’m pointing out that Edwards has been overlooked throughout this.
Former UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee and West Virginia cornerback Beanie Bishop have received a lot of attention. But now is the time to put Edwards on your radar.
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