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Could the Steelers draft a Najee Harris-style running back in 2025?
Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
The Steelers seem to have a type when it comes to running backs they’ve scouted or signed this offseason: Kenneth Gainwell, Jaydon Blue, Dylan Sampson, etc. The biggest outlier? Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II. How could he fit the Steelers’ plans?
The basics on Ollie Gordon II
- Position: Running back
- Class: Junior
- Size: 6’1, 226 pounds
- Age: 21
- Projected draft round: 5
Ollie Gordon II scouting report
I’ve seen a lot of — sometimes misplaced — Najee Harris comparisons made by Steelers fans in regards to some of the bigger running backs in this year’s class. One that actually makes some sense? Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II.
Gordon weighed in at the
NFL Combine at 6’1, 226 pounds, awfully close to Harris’ Combine measurements of 6’1, 232. Both are upright runners who still pack a lot of power and toughness, but are noticeably lacking when it comes to burst and agility.
Gordon compares to Harris in the more minute aspects of his game, as well. For one, he brings a fairly effective hurdle to the table despite his general profile as a power back (No. 0 in all clips).
Another Harris trait that Gordon possesses is a reliable presence as a pass-catcher. Gordon has good hands and impressed creating yards after dump-offs and screens. It’s a fun wrinkle to his game that gives him a bit more versatility than you’d expect.
There are some concerns with Gordon’s abilities as a runner, though. Going from scouting names like Dylan Sampson and
D.J. Giddens to Gordon makes it clear that the Oklahoma State runner is simply operating at a slower speed compared to some of the other mid-round backs in this class.
To be clear, his vision is solid, but he lacks high-end acceleration and agility, making it hard to efficiently sift through the defense or create when plays break down. Gordon takes a while to get to full speed, and when he had to slow down at the line of scrimmage it greatly reduced his effectiveness.
One important caveat is that Gordon’s 2024 involved constantly running into stacked boxes as an effect of Oklahoma State’s often cringe-inducing passing attack. He also dealt with a lower-body injury for much of the season,
admirably pushing through it but clearly not playing at 100%.
Flashback to 2023, when Gordon won the Doak Walker award as college football’s top running back, and you can see him at the height of his powers. He’s not a significantly different running back, but watch this
cut-up from his 271-yard game against Cincinnati that season, and you can safely assume he brings a bit more juice than the 2024 film shows.
Gordon ran a disappointing but not surprising
4.61-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
He also ranked near the bottom of the pack when it came to his position groups’ 10-yard split, vertical jump, and broad jump. He’s just not going to be a big-play threat at the next level.
Still, Gordon is a long strider who can build up a solid amount of speed, especially if he’s given a clean lane by his offensive line.
The same goes for Gordon’s power. He won’t always push the pile if he’s contacted behind the line of scrimmage, but there are plenty of grown-man runs scattered throughout his 2024. As is evident from the receiving cut-up, Gordon is a dominant runner once he gets a full head of steam.
Gordon also consistently heats up in the red zone, often diving for the goal line.
But my favorite aspect of Gordon’s game is his pass protection. It’s not always perfect as his technique can suffer when he’s hunting for a big hit, but it’s hard to see his seek-and-destroy blocking mentality as a bad thing. Between Gordon’s blocking and his pass-catching ability, I think he’ll offer a bit more than the stereotypical short-yardage running back.
Gordon’s disappointing 2024 and poor testing are going to push him down in a draft class loaded with more explosive talents. NFL teams will also be concerned with a June 2024 DUI arrest that resulted in two charged misdemeanors.
Gordon later released a statement apologizing for his actions.
Overall, I have an early- to mid-Day 3 grade on Gordon, with the expectation that he could develop into a solid RB2-3 at the next level. However, the interview process is going to be an important one for the Oklahoma State star.
Strengths
- Excellent size; strong, durable runner
- Natural pass-catcher and above-average receiver out of the backfield
- Violent blocker
- Absurdly productive 2023; still averaged 4.6 YPC in a struggling offense in 2024
- High-effort runner
- Hard to bring down once he builds up speed
Weaknesses
- Less than ideal long speed, agility, and acceleration
- Linear runner; struggles to create laterally
- Upright ball-carrier who doesn’t always fully maximize his power
- Arrest in 2024
What others are saying about Ollie Gordon II
Gordon II doesn’t have the quickest or lightest feet, either — so trash through his track will bog him down and leave him at risk of having to gear all the way down in order to get himself redirected. All of this has the makings of a runner who should ideally not spend much time in the backfield pressing the line of scrimmage. He’s not a great fit for the outside zone-heavy schemes due to his limited ability to plant and drive to attack gaps. The vertical run game is where he’s most likely to apply some of his dominant open-air abilities.
At over 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Gordon has an enticing frame. He possesses nimble feet, allowing him to maneuver behind man- and gap-blocking schemes. In 2023, he displayed strong balance, brushing off arm tackles and keeping runs alive. However, his 2024 season was a step back. His game lacked the physicality expected of a big back, and his patience often crossed into hesitation. Flexibility and agility have never been his calling cards. He also has minimal experience as a receiver. In pass protection, his size gives him the potential to be an asset, but much of his blocking effectiveness comes from chop blocks rather than proper technique.
Teams and scouts will have some vetting to do with some of the concerns ... However, they will undoubtedly be enamored by his prolific performance two years ago. Gordon profiles as a thunder back at the next level who would likely be utilized best in a tandem with a lightning caliber player. He doesn’t have elite speed, but once he gets going, he is a freight train capable of bulldozing defenders that is hard to bring down. While he isn’t an elite weapon out of the backfield as a receiver, he does show some potential and promise. In order to be a true three-down back in the National Football League, he will have to improve upon the former and also show he can be more capable in pass protection.
Ollie Gordon II’s fit with the Steelers
The Steelers’
top-30 visit with Gordon is a perplexing one. He fits the draft range Pittsburgh seems to be targeting at running back, but he’s a vastly different type of player compared to the speedsters (
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaydon Blue, etc.) the team has been focusing on. One theory that comes to mind is that Gordon’s 2024 arrest will make teams more likely to bring him in for an interview.
But how does Gordon fit the Steelers if he does end up on the team? My draft profile might read a bit negative compared to the others I’ve found online, but don’t get me wrong — on a strong power-running team that can consistently give Gordon a runway to wreak havoc on the second level of the defense, I think he could be a really good addition to an NFL backfield. The problem, of course, is that the Steelers are a zone-heavy team under Arthur Smith with inconsistent blocking up front.
However, let’s end with a quick thought experiment: Would Najee Harris have been more well-liked if he was drafted on Day 3? I think that’s a pretty obvious yes. In the scenario that Gordon falls in the draft and the Steelers end up waiting to select a running back, adding a big, reliable bruiser to fill out the depth chart makes a modicum of sense. However, if the Steelers do indeed target a bigger back in the draft, I think there are far more zone-friendly options available.
TL;DR: Gordon is a large, build-up power runner who will be best utilized in a gap scheme at the NFL level. Athletic limitations dampen what he’ll be able to do in the wrong scheme or behind a bad offensive line, but various tools (hurdles, pass protection, receiving ability) give him increased dimensionality.
What are your thoughts on Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
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