Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been named the best fit for Dallas Cowboys free-agent running back Rico Dowdle.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could lose running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who are set to become free agents this offseason. If that’s true, The 33rd Team believes they would be the perfect landing spot for another 1,000-yard rusher.
Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team recently named the Steelers as the “best fit” for Dallas Cowboys free-agent running back Rico Dowdle.
Predicting where some of the top RBs on the market could land next month 🗺️🔮 https://t.co/QRyYm41WNX pic.twitter.com/bCOPXl4ixL
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 19, 2025
Dowdle, 26, is coming off the best season of his young, NFL career. In 2024, he rushed for a career-high 1,079 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. He also recorded 39 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns.
Only time will tell whether Dowdle will be able to replicate his 2024 campaign since it was his first year as the Cowboys’ featured back. In previous years, he played behind running backs Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott. However, he made the most of his opportunity and is now set to cash in on a nice payday.
The 33rd Team predicts Dowdle will sign a two-year, $10 million deal, but Spotrac believes he could receive up to $6.2 million per year.
It remains to be seen whether the Steelers would be willing to dish out that much money to a running back, especially after declining Harris’ $6.79 million fifth-year option last offseason. But Pittsburgh is reportedly looking to get faster at the position and Dowdle’s 4.54-second 40-yard dash time supports he would be just that over Harris.
The 33rd Team also predicts Harris will join the Los Angeles Chargers on a three-year, $24 million contract — a well-deserved payday for a player who has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons in the NFL.
There were trade rumors last offseason that speculated the idea of the Steelers sending Harris to the Cowboys. The two teams may just end up swapping running backs just one year later.
