Latest news with #runningback
Yahoo
3 days ago
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Early Mock Draft Urges Stunning Decision For Steelers Offense
Early Mock Draft Urges Stunning Decision For Steelers Offense originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers got younger in the backfield during the offseason, adding Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the NFL Draft back in April. Johnson joins Jaylen Warren as the team's top anticipated ball carriers in what should be a run-heavy offense in the Steel City once again. Advertisement In fact many of the reporters out of Pittsburgh through OTAs and minicamp have been glowingly positive with regard to Johnson. Given the physical limitations of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers will need a steady run game to ease his burden. But one early mock projection for the 2026 draft is predicting the Steelers to gloss over Johnson and add another ball-carrier very early. Ryan McCrystal of Sharp Analysis has the Steelers taking Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton in the top 15. "There is no Ashton Jeanty in next year's draft class, but the 220-pound Singleton might be close with his blend of size and speed. His 41 receptions last year also proved he could be a factor in the passing game." Based on all the reviews of Johnson from Pittsburgh thus far, this seems awfully dismissive to a player who could have a major impact on the offense from the jump. But even in the scenario where Johnson has a letdown year, why would the Steelers use a first-round pick on a running back? Advertisement That's not to say Singleton will not be a talented prospect when the time comes. However, the Steelers' future in the backfield should be secure enough to hold off on those potential needs and address a more pressing position on the roster. Training camp and the preseason will provide the first samples of Johnson in action and the Steelers will get a true evaluation for their budding star. So for now, the focus rests on what Johnson provides and what him and Warren can accomplish this season. Related: Steelers $132 Million 'Sweet Deal' With D.K. Deserves Brutally Honest Analysis Related: Steelers Behind-The-Scenes Look At 'Aggressive' Trade And Metcalf's View On Rodgers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
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Cowboys Urged To Trade for Another Running Back
Cowboys Urged To Trade for Another Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys acted with little urgency to improve their backfield a year ago. Once Tony Pollard left in free agency the team installed an aged Ezekiel Elliott and an inexperienced Rico Dowdle. Advertisement The latter ended up producing solid numbers individually but the Cowboys rushing offense was far from a strength. That led to a complete overhaul in the offseason. Dallas signed Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams during free agency before drafting Phil Mafah and Jaydon Blue in April. One would think those moves gives them a wide enough selecting pool to construct their backfield and identify a solid No. 1. Just in case they are still searching for options, Daniel Arwas at has urged the Cowboys to explore a trade for another young running back. He identified Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum as the ideal target. "Although Williams and Sanders are both recognizable names; both made their respective All-Rookie teams, and Sanders was a Pro Bowler in 2022; the two combined for less than 800 yards in 2024. And that – in the case of Williams – was as the team's designated starter. Advertisement Running back is, unfortunately for the pair, a young man's game, and Corum certainly still has his youth." Blue and Mafah were not widely acclaimed prospects coming out of college so there's no guarantee they usurp the veterans at training camp. As Arwas notes, there are some questions for both Sanders and Williams to answer in showing they deserve top billing in the Cowboys' backfield. But does that all mean Dallas must add another player to the mix? Corum may be under utilized in Los Angeles, yet the Rams are one injury away from needing his services. At Kyren Williams' usage rate, that grim possibility cannot be entirely ruled out. It's a hard ask for the Rams to sacrifice their own backfield depth and the Cowboys simultaneously stir the competition with another competitor. If they cannot find a solid starter and use their backs effectively within this scheme, that's simply a failure on both the front office and coaching staff. Advertisement As of now, there's a belief that at least two of these players will be capable and dependable each week. The Cowboys should not be in a rush to add anymore pieces at least until they the full scope of what they have at training camp. Related: Cowboys' Jerry Jones Will Fire 'Schotty,' Claims Colin Cowherd in Surprise Prediction Related: Cowboys' 'Bazooka Joe' Milton 3 Steps Away From Winning Dak Backup Job This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bijan Robinson Could Become the Falcons All-Time Best Running Back
Bijan Robinson Could Become the Falcons All-Time Best Running Back originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When Herschel Walker was dominating opponents in Athens, I dreamed as a child about the possibility of him bringing his skills about 70 miles south to join the Atlanta Falcons. The thought of forming a "dream backfield" with Walker and William Andrews was certainly just a fantasy. In 1983, when Walker was available, he chose to join the USFL and play for the New Jersey Generals. That year, Atlanta had the 16th overall pick and missed out on several Hall of Fame talents in that draft class, including Dan Marino, Darrell Green, and Richard Dent, who were all selected much later. As fate would have it, 1983 turned out to be the last complete season for William Andrews. He rushed the ball 331 times, contributing to 39% of the total offensive output, but a freak injury during training camp sidelined him for the next two years. He never fully bounced back and was never quite the same player again. Too often, promising careers and dreams are cut short. Jamal Anderson faced his own knee problems. Following the Super Bowl, Anderson was set for a huge game the next season at Texas Stadium on Monday Night Football. If he couldn't secure a Super Bowl win, dominating the Cowboys in front of a nationally televised audience would be the next best achievement. Sadly, Anderson suffered a knee injury, went through rehabilitation, and then re-injured his left ACL again. It was two significant injuries within three seasons, leading to an early retirement. Advertisement In looking at the Falcons' all-time rushing leaders, names like Anderson and Andrews don't rank higher due to their shortened careers. Currently, the top spot is held by Gerald Riggs with 6,631 yards. As Bijan Robinson gears up for his third season, he's already over a third of the way to surpassing that total. In fact, if Robinson simply matches his performance from last season, he will soar to number seven on the list, surpassing the rushing totals of Stanback, Hampton, and Michael Vick. The crucial factor for Robinson will be maintaining consistency each week, which was somewhat inconsistent last year. For instance, in games against the Broncos, Saints, and Chiefs, Bijan managed only 94 rushing yards combined. For those of you scoffing at an all-time total of just 6,631 to lead a franchise, there are even lower totals across the NFL. The Texans are slightly behind with Arian Foster's 6,472. The Bucs are actually below 6,000 yards with James Wilder, and the Patriots' all-time leader is the late Sam "Bam" Cunningham at 5,453. The only obstacles in Robinson's path to dominating the city, winning rushing titles, and shattering team records are an unfortunate injury or a fallout with management. Here's to you, Mr. Robinson; a city is waiting, and so are the record books. Related: Atlanta Falcons Broadcaster Wes Durham Previews the Upcoming Season Related: Former Falcons Wide Receiver Shares His Thoughts on Michael Penix Jr. Related: Falcons' Legend Shares Thoughts on Michael Penix Jr. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Falcons expected to sign explosive UFL running back, per report
The Atlanta Falcons have one of the NFL's elite running back duos, and are expected to add another dynamic weapon to the group. According Pro Football Newsroom reporter James Larsen, the Falcons are signing UFL running back Jashaun Corbin to their roster. "Corbin led the UFL in rushing yards (514), with four touchdowns to his name," wrote Larsen. "Was one of the most electric playmakers in Payton Pardee's offense." Advertisement The former Florida State standout is the UFL-to-NFL signing of the year. He signed with the New York Giants after going undrafted in 2022, appearing in six games for the team in 2023. Corbin has just three career catches for 12 total receiving yards, and one rushing yard on his lone NFL carry. The Falcons have one of the NFL's top running backs in Bijan Robinson, who's coming off a career-high 1,456 rushing yards last season. The team also has former 1,000-yard back Tyler Allgeier, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Last year, Atlanta selected former Alabama running back Jase McClellan in the sixth round. The rookie appeared in just two games last season, rushing for 32 yards on 13 carries. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons signing UFL running back Jashaun Corbin, per report
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Steelers RB Room Better Off Without Najee Harris?
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers let Najee Harris walk in free agency this offseason. The former first-round draft choice was a model of consistency in black and gold, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons with the franchise. Even with him gone, Arthur Smith likes what he sees in his revamped stable of ball carriers. The Steelers' offensive coordinator was asked recently if Jaylen Warren, Harris' sidekick the past three years, is the team's clear-cut No. 1 running back heading into the upcoming season. Free agent addition Kenneth Gainwell and rookie third-round draft pick Kaleb Johnson are other guys who figure to make an impact toting the ball. Advertisement 'We've got a lot of weapons back there,' Smith said last week before a mandatory minicamp practice. 'They all got different skill sets, explosive players in a little different way. Just talking about Kaleb, a different style player than Jalen. We added Gainwell. There's a lot of depth in that room. It'll work itself out. We've got a lot of weapons back there, and then how we deploy them, that's what we'll get into at Latrobe. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell at practice on May 29, 2025 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now 'Then sometimes, if the injuries happen, some guy may have to carry the load a little bit heavier one week or the other. We're really excited about that room.' Warren has picked up 1,674 yards and six touchdowns on the ground since joining the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Gainwell has been in the league one campaign longer than Warren. He's totaled 1,185 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground and adds a dimension as a receiver. Advertisement 'Seeing Jaylen's power, seeing Jaylen's work ethic, that's the same way I take the game,' Gainwell said during OTAs. 'Then bringing KJ along with us, I think it's gonna be a great show.' Johnson focused on his pass protection technique during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He's a proven rusher, having piled up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries at Iowa last season. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Is Steelers RB Room Better Off Without Najee Harris? Related Headlines
