Mock drafts come in all shapes and sizes, but most assume the Steelers will target offense early—usually wide receiver or quarterback. Cynthia Frelund zagged from that consensus, projecting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, the top running back in the class, to Pittsburgh in the first round.
“Love’s potential impact in both the pass and run game is very high — like Bijan Robinson levels. For him to have a successful rookie season (and one that looks something like Bijan’s impressive 2025 campaign), he’ll need a strong O-line that will allow him to adjust to NFL speed and concepts. Pittsburgh had my 10th-best OL this past season,” Frelund wrote on NFL.com.
First-round running backs are becoming more and more rare with mixed results, but there have no doubt been some big difference makers over the last decade. Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Bijan Robinson are great examples of franchise-altering running backs taken in the first round over the last decade. But for every one of those, there is a Rashaad Penny, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Trent Richardson, or Sony Michel.
The Steelers tried with a first-round running back when they drafted Najee Harris in 2021. While he rushed for at least 1,000 yards in four straight seasons, the Steelers did not pick up his fifth-year option, and he wasn’t as impactful as many hoped given the first-round price tag. Some would argue that Harris never had the offensive line in place to be successful. That may be true, but the Steelers’ o-line is finally starting to turn a corner after multiple attempted rebuilds.
If there’s a first-round back to consider in this day and age, Love is the guy. He rushed for 2,497 yards and 35 TDs over the last two seasons at Notre Dame and caught another 55 passes for 517 yards and five TDs. He is capable of staying on the field every down, and has route-running, and pass-catching skills to pair with his home-run speed and unique contact balance.
Would the Steelers consider him if he made it to No. 21? For one, I’m not so sure he’ll fall that far in a draft lacking blue-chip talent. Pittsburgh also has Jaylen Warren under contract for two more seasons and a third-round pick entering his second season in Kaleb Johnson, on top of whatever happens with pending free agent Kenneth Gainwell. If Gainwell departs, it could make sense to add a back, but the first round seems a bit rich given the needs elsewhere on the roster.
Mike McCarthy never really had elite running backs throughout his coaching career with the Green Bay Packers. He had two solid years with Ezekial Elliott, but even then he was using a committee approach with Tony Pollard. The McCarthy offense doesn’t need an elite back to function, but it wouldn’t hurt.