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To say the Steelers struggled to run the football last year is an understatement. James Conner struggled to stay healthy and produce consistently, and Anthony McFarland and Benny Snell could not provide enough of a spark when Conner was unavailable. McFarland showed promise, but he was impatient at times and did not let the game come to him. Much of the issue was the offensive line, but there is no denying the Steelers need to add a running back either through free agency or the draft.
After ranking dead last in rushing yards and yards per attempt in 2020, both Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II have expressed concerns about the running game and have indicated it will be near or at the top of the list of priorities this offseason. The Steelers have not selected a running back in the first round since Rashard Mendenhall, but considering how badly the running game suffered last year, would Kevin Colbert consider it? Would it be wise to take one in the first round when the offensive line is in such poor shape?