Steelers running backs have a lot to prove in 2025 according to PFF

As the 2025 NFL offseason progresses into the summer months, there will constantly be a barrage of lists and rankings from various outlets. While some fans will have preferred places where they look for particular rankings, others will just avoid the information altogether.

Over the next two weeks, I will be reporting on the members of the Pittsburgh Steelers who landed in the top 32 players at various positions according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). I know there are many who like to criticize PFF rankings, with me being one of them, it doesn’t mean that their information is always incorrect. While they used rankings for some of their reasoning in placing the players on these list, it was not their ultimate deciding factor and instead was the opinion of the various authors depending on which position group was being covered.

Whenever I cover various things from PFF, I often give the disclaimer reminding people that their grades are merely an opinion. One thing PFF should be commended on is that they collect an immense amount of data, particularly looking at each player on every snap, in order to form their opinion. But more data doesn’t automatically deliver a correct opinion. Regardless, it is still a great point of discussion to see where the Pittsburgh Steelers rank and the various positional groups.

Next up, let’s look at PFF’s rankings at the running back and quarterback positions where the Steelers have nobody in the top 32 at RB and have made a significant change at QB.

Looking at the running backs, the Steelers did not place any players in the top 32. With Jaylen Warren, despite being known as an excellent pass protector yet getting horrible pass blocking scores from PFF as they really have no idea what successful pass blocking from a running back looks like, his overall PFF score from last year was nothing to write home about as he ranked 46th of 59 players. Still, that was better than newly acquired running back Kenneth Gainwell who ranked 59th of 59 players. With the Steelers other option being a rookie drafted in the third round, it’s not surprising that no players made the list.

But when looking at who did make the list, there were a number of things that stood out. As expected, Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens held the top spot ahead of Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he was the class of the division, Henry was not the only player from the AFC North. Chase Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals came in 25th on the list while rookie Quinshon Judkins to the Cleveland Browns is listed as 27th. Additionally, former Steelers running back Najee Harris was 26th of the list but not the top player on his new team as rookie Omarion Hampton was 24th.

With no members of the Steelers on the running backs list, I decided to combine it with another list where the Steelers came in very low. When looking at where PFF ranked quarterbacks, they specifically went with who they believed to be the starting quarterback for each team. But PFF made their list before the Steelers had signed Aaron Rodgers. Exactly where Rogers would fall is a very good question, but instead let’s go ahead and check out to see what PFF had to say about Mason Rudolph…

31. Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers

After spending his first six seasons in Pittsburgh, Mason Rudolph spent a year in Tennessee before returning on a two-year deal with the Steelers. With just 850 career dropbacks and only 22 big-time throws to his name, Rudolph is firmly established as a career backup. Given that the Steelers selected Will Howard in the sixth round, it’s likely we’ll see the rookie take the field before the season is over.

it just goes to show how much everything changes. This article was talking about Will Howard taking over the offense by the end of the season where Howard will now be lucky to play a single offensive snap in 2025 unless things go terribly right or terribly wrong.

What is interesting is that PFF put their rankings in tiers where Mason Rudolph was in Tier 6: “Low-end starters and not long-term options.” This group included Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns at 29th, Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts at 30th, and Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints at 32nd. I find it interesting that Rudolph was put in the category with a bunch of other quarterbacks who may or may not be the starters. For now, that is not in question with Rudolph as the addition of Aaron Rodgers has moved him to the backup.

Looking around the AFC North, they were well represented in the top tier which was the “Elite” category. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals came in second with Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens coming in third. So for the AFC North, it was two players in the top tier and two players in the bottom tier, taking into account that Aaron Rodgers had yet to join the Steelers.

Looking at some former Steelers players, both Russell Wilson (27th) and Justin Fields (28th) landed in Tier 5 titled “Veterans capable of solid play but could be quickly replaced.”

Other position groups covered:

Center
Edge Rusher
Tight End
Interior Defensive Line
Wide Receiver
Linebacker
Guard & Tackle
Cornerback