After 4 years of posting 1,000 speeding yards, Najee Harris left for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Steelers introduced in Kenneth Gainwell, however the backfield solely consists of him, Jaylen Warren, and a potentially-eventual-cut Cordarrelle Patterson. It’s why the staff is scouring the Earth for a operating again and why the sleeper prospect Pittsburgh ought to draft is Oregon’s Jordan James.
Pittsburgh has sufficient expertise with Gainwell and Warren that they don’t precisely want a “characteristic again.” A kind of is likely to be good to have, however there are a few areas the Steelers would possibly goal within the draft. Defensive position, quarterback, and receiver are all spots the Steelers may look to improve earlier than they take a look at operating again.
James isn’t a top-round decide, permitting the staff to repair different wants earlier than touchdown him on Day Three.
Why Jordan James?
James was a enjoyable participant to look at throughout his time at Oregon. At simply 5094, 205 kilos, he’s not the largest again by any means. However he performs with energy and makes up for any lack of measurement together with his agility. He’s a man that may make you miss in a cellphone sales space. A fast runner who eats up yards within the open area, James runs with out hesitation.
Whereas his smaller stature can damage him, it does assist him preserve a low pad stage, and he’s usually capable of decide up yards after contact. He runs with good pace, and if the road is clogged with defenders, he’s not afraid to squeeze his method via. When watching him play, James exhibits spectacular energy for his small measurement. Simply check out how he bounces off defenders within the play beneath.
With all of that, he also can break performs open together with his pace. He’s not the quickest man on the planet, as his 4.55 40-time suggests. Nonetheless, he simply eats up yards when the protection permits any area in entrance of him. Wanting on the Steelers’ offense particularly, there are causes to suppose he’d match effectively.
In his third and ultimate yr at Oregon in 2024, James was extremely productive. He performed all 14 video games for the Geese and had 1,267 speeding yards on 233 makes an attempt, good for a median of 5.4 per carry. James added 26 receptions and 209 receiving yards whereas scoring 15 complete instances. He doesn’t get the identical recognition throughout this draft cycle as a few of his teammates, however he was completely a key cog in that offense for a Geese staff ranked No. 1 for many of 2024.
Earlier this offseason, I took a deeper take a look at James’ recreation.
How Does Jordan James Match With Pittsburgh?
You possibly can solely take a man if he matches what you wish to do offensively, and James does. At Oregon, James performed in a zone scheme. That’s one thing he understands very well. Jones has nice imaginative and prescient, understands how you can arrange his blocks, and shortly breaks via the road of scrimmage as soon as he sees a gap. He runs with persistence as effectively.
Arthur Smith isn’t completely going to run a zone scheme, and there could be different issues James must do within the offense if drafted. Nonetheless, it’s straightforward to see him becoming into Smith’s offense. James thrived within the zone scheme at Oregon and would see one thing comparable in Pittsburgh. He’d even be operating behind an offensive line with some promising items on it, together with Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, and Troy Fautanu, who’s set to return after lacking basically his complete rookie season.
Within the passing recreation, James brings worth as effectively. His route-tree isn’t an enormous energy, and most of his pass-catching duties at Oregon revolved round easy checkdowns. Nonetheless, he lined up vast just a few instances for the Geese and ran routes on the boundary. James’ bread and butter isn’t as a receiving again, however it’s one thing he can supply.
Becoming into the Steelers’ backfield could be attention-grabbing. They’re not similar, however you would argue that he, Jaylen Warren, and Kenneth Gainwell all have comparable traits. With James, the Steelers wouldn’t essentially be getting a man who will remodel the RB room.
That’s not a foul factor. All three backs have causes to consider they’d match effectively in Smith’s offense. Utilizing them on a rotational foundation would preserve them contemporary. And though James isn’t one of many extra tantalizing prospects on the high of the draft, Gainwell and Warren can nonetheless be a greater backfield than what Pittsburgh had with Harris and Warren.
Gainwell is on an inexpensive, one-year deal, and Warren is barely tied to the Steelers for 2025. In 2026, there’s an opportunity neither of the 2 might be in Pittsburgh. If drafted, James could be below contract for the following 4 years. So, though the operating again room wouldn’t be extraordinarily versatile in 2025, it may nonetheless be within the years after.
The place Will He Be Drafted?
James is certainly going to be a man accessible on the final day of the draft. I gave him a fourth-round grade in my scouting report, however he may actually go decrease than that. The operating again class is very deep this yr, so anticipate James to be on the board as late because the sixth spherical.
This could be good for the Steelers. They’ve met with a number of high quarterback prospects and wish so as to add to the defensive position. With George Pickens’ free company looming, the receiver place could possibly be one other space they aim. They might tackle all of these positions early and nonetheless draft a proficient operating again like Jordan James in direction of the top.
