2020 NFL Draft: Top trade-up targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Throughout the Pittsburgh Steelers run of success during the 21st century, one facet of the offense always stayed the same during their success. A strong running back to back-up Roethlisberger. For years that spot was held by Le’Veon Bell, a dual-threat running back who could run, block and pass-catch.

Today that role is filled by James Conner, the former Pitt Panther running back who was drafted in the third round in 2017. Ostensibly brought in to mitigate a Bell injury/contract dispute in 2017, Conner became the lead running back in 2018, rushing for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also proved to be just as adept at pass-catching as Bell, bringing in 55 receptions from 71 targets, per Pro Football Reference.

But Conner missed six games last season. He is entering his fourth season in 2020 and is likely looking for a long-term contract after this year. Considering the devaluation of the running back position in the NFL (combined with the Steelers’ short-term cap situation), he is unlikely to see that money in Pittsburgh.

If Roethlisberger leaves after this season, Conner will almost surely be sent packing during free-agency in 2021. Without a starting-caliber quarterback under center, the team will need to rebuild their offense and get their cap situation back to a reasonable level. The team’s chances of competing for the division would be very low without Roethlisberger in 2021 and his exodus would trigger a full rebuild in Pittsburgh, making a top-shelf running back obsolete.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers want to get the most out of an older Roethlisberger in 2020, they will likely consider adding another starting-quality running back. Besides aiding Roethlisberger in the backfield, a rookie running back would help assure Conner does not need to see the injured reserve in 2020, giving the offense a fresh pair of legs on every down.

D’Andre Swift from the Georgia Bulldogs may not be the best running back in the 2020 NFL Draft. But after playing in the very popular SEC, he is certainly the most recognizable. While Swift would deviate from the Steelers propensity to draft “big” running backs (Conner: 6-foot-2; Bell: 6-foot-1), his 5-foot-9, 215-pound body makes him a strong running back in this years draft class.

A former five-star recruit out of Philadelphia, he was ranked the number one recruit out of Pennsylvania in 2017 and the fourth-best high school running back in the country, per 247Sports. Heavily recruited coming out of high school, he turned down opportunities to play for almost every SEC powerhouse to play for Georgia.

As a true freshman in 2017 Swift hit the ground running, both literally and figuratively. He racked up 618 yards on just 81 attempts, good for 7.6 yards per carry, according to Sports Reference. He finished his college career with 2,885 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, good for 6.6 yards per carry.

Swift would also serve the Steelers as another pass-catching running back, having caught 73 receptions in three seasons, good for 666 receiving yards and five passing touchdowns. As the Steelers continue to look for receiving production from their running backs in 2020, Swift would make an excellent addition to their long line of dual-threat running backs.

Swift is an all-around talented running back. His listed height at 5-foot-9 is lost when watching him on film. Swift looks as strong as Todd Gurley (6-foot-1), has a solid frame and has the strength to deflect tackles and bounce off defenders when rushing. He played a large part on the Bulldogs offense since 2018 and has the experience playing for a run-heavy offense in Georgia.

While not the fastest running back in the 2020 NFL Draft, Swift has enough speed to peel away from defenders and has the strength to get yards after the catch on check downs. He has good hands, competing with defenders on pass-catching plays and rarely has the ball knocked out of his hands during running plays. According to CBSSports.com, Swift had just seven fumbles in 43 games and lost only four of them during that time.

Having been a focal point of one of the best teams in the SEC means Swift will be selected early in the 2020 NFL Draft. While seeing him drafted in the first round would be unexpected, Swift will very likely go early in the second round.

With the running back position becoming more expendable in the modern NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers could wait and see if he falls to them in the second round. But Swift will almost surely be drafted before the team’s third-round compensatory pick and if Colbert likes him as the next starting running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers he may consider trading up to secure him for the Steelers.

This situation would involve some finesse, as using two draft picks on a running back while Conner is still with the team would be a bad use of draft capital. Colbert’s best chance at snagging Swift in the second round would be to offer a late-Day Three pick on top of their second-rounder to move up a few spots. Swift is a phenomenal athlete but trading any early round picks (either in 2020 or 2021) would be wasteful from a draft value perspective.

Considering the Steelers only have six draft picks in 2020, they shouldn’t sell their future for one running back, especially because they already have a good running back on the roster for 2020. But if Swift falls past the 40th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Colbert would be smart to use a late-round pick to try to move up. It would secure a strong running back past the 2020 season, allowing the Steelers to focus their cap space on more important positions.