The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of work to do ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, and with the head coaching search over, the team can look at roster building. The team still has plenty of team needs, and it is worth taking a look at who will be hitting the open market when the new league year starts in March. This list is compiled from CBS Sports Top 50 free agent list, and is specifically for the Steelers positions of need heading into the offseason.

Let’s take a look at the top running backs, and be sure to note the underlying information below each player is from CBS Sports:

19. Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III

Age: 27
Pro Bowls: 0
First-team All-Pro teams: 0

Kenneth Walker III is one of the NFL’s most elusive running backs. Walker’s 286 tackles avoided are the second-most in the league since he was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, trailing only Josh Jacobs’ 293 in the span of the former’s career. Walker possesses the ability to hit people with the truck stuck and also blow by players to leave them in the dust. Walker has been in a committee with Zach Charbonnet since his second season, which gives him plenty of remaining tread on his tires.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne

Age: 26
Pro Bowls: 0
First-team All-Pro teams: 0

Travis Etienne rebuilt his stock just in time to become a free agent. After hamstring and shoulder injuries derailed his 2024 season, he bounced back to start every game and ran for over 1,000 yards (1,107) for the third time in four seasons. He’s also a value player in the passing game: Etienne, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are the only three running backs with over 30 catches and over 250 yards receiving in each of the last four seasons. That’s the span of Etienne’s entire career. A career-high 13 touchdowns from scrimmage also came at the right time.

He’ll turn 27 on Jan. 26, so he might be in line for a three-year deal with an average per year around $10 million on his next contract.

29. Dallas Cowboys RB Javonte Williams

Age: 25
Pro Bowls: 0
First-team All-Pro teams: 0

The Dallas Cowboys want running back Javonte Williams to return for another few seasons after he broke out for the ninth-most rushing yards (1,201) in the NFL in 2025.

Williams signed with Dallas on a one-year, $3 million in free agency last year after looking like his burst was gone following a 2022 knee injury that resulted in multiple torn ligaments. He snatched the starting running back job with the Cowboys so fast that Dallas didn’t even suit him up for the preseason. The breakaway speed isn’t quite there anymore, but he’s agile enough to get to the second level in a hurry while also regularly picking up hidden yards by running through contract and falling forward.

He did end the season with a neck/stinger injury, and it’s worth wondering how Williams will hold up going forward after the largest workload of his career in 2025.

Other Notable Free Agent Running Backs:

Los Angeles Chargers — Najee Harris

Pittsburgh Steelers — Kenneth Gainwell

Carolina Panthers — Rico Dowdle

Washington Commanders — Austin Ekeler

Houston Texans — Nick Chubb

New York Jets — Breece Hall

Denver Broncos — JK Dobbins

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Rachaad White

San Francisco 49ers — Brian Robinson

Kansas City Chiefs — Isiah Pacheco

Arizona Cardinals — Michael Carter

Washington Commanders — Jeremy McNichols

Other Free Agent Lists, By Position:

For a complete list of pending 2026 Free Agent linebackers, check out Spotrac HERE. Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the offseason.