With Najee Harris signed to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers face a significant challenge in reconstructing their running back position ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith prioritize a strong running game, yet the Steelers' free agency approach fell short of expectations, leaving them with limited options.

Current lead back Jaylen Warren is unproven as a feature back, while the addition of Kenneth Gainwell as a backup raises questions about workload capacity. The team also retained Cordarrelle Patterson, who has struggled to make an impact. However, the draft could present an opportunity to revamp the roster with a selection of promising running backs known for their speed and explosiveness, such as Dylan Sampson, Quinshon Judkins, and Kaleb Johnson.