Steelers May Have A Surprising Benny Snell Jr. Replacement Already On 90-Man Roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in a lot of new faces this offseason. The front office was quite active in free agency, as well as the 2023 NFL Draft. In the process, they let four-year veteran and 2019 fourth-rounder Benny Snell Jr. walk in free agency. The Kentucky product has yet to latch on with a different team, as he tried out for the Denver Broncos about a month ago, but never signed to the AFC West squad. 

His tenure in Pittsburgh was disappointing, as he never became the running back that many thought he could be. Snell did have a few stellar moments, including his 113-yard game in Week 1 of the 2020 season. That was his only 100-yard game in Pittsburgh, as he finished with 275 carries for 982 yards and seven touchdowns in 63 total games. In fact, his biggest impact came on special teams. He became a huge member of Danny Smith’s unit, as he played 991 snaps there in his tenure.

Now, that lack of presence in the running back room is arguably a need. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are locked in as the top two running backs, but they aren’t special teams contributors. Alfonzo Graham has impressed this summer, but it’s unclear if he’d be an impact there. Former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats actually thinks they have their Benny Snell replacement on the current roster, as he spoke about via his Arthur Moats Experience podcast.

"The thing that I do like about him is this man [Darius Hagans], he has a good YAC [yards after catch] ability. [He] covers kicks though, man, and he plays extremely hard when he's covering those kicks. 'Benny Snell replacement,'" Moats' co-host chimed in. "That's the angle. I don't necessarily see Darius unseating any of those three [in the backfield]." 

Darius Hagans was signed in early June after playing his college ball at Virginia State. Just before that, he was waived by the Indianapolis Colts. Graham has been the HBCU running back that’s garnered the attention, but Hagans is a name to keep an eye on as well. For both of them, they still have to compete with Anthony McFarland Jr. for that third (and possible fourth) spot. 

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The 2020 fourth-rounder in McFarland hasn’t lived up to expectations, similar to Snell, and he doesn't provide much of an impact on special teams. In his three seasons, he's appeared on just eight snaps on special teams. The three that Moats was referring to was Harris, Warren, and McFarland, as that still seems to be the most likely running back room come Week 1.

For guys fighting to make the 53-man roster, specifically youngsters, it’s important to be able to provide value in that area of the game. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has always raved about guys that add that kind of value, as we've seen him stick with guys like Snell over the years. Ultimately, Hagans' roster spot may boil down to whether the team opts to keep three or four running backs. 

Typically, the team carries three running backs in addition to a fullback. While fullback Derek Watt is no longer on the team, Connor Heyward may fill that void in 2023. Contrary to Graham, Hagans brings a ton of size to the table. He is listed at 6'0", 210 pounds, and he had 189 carries for 1,012 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. On the receiving end, he had 17 catches for 135 yards in 10 games. 

While the practice squad still seems to be his most likely destination, Hagans still has plenty of time to impress Pittsburgh's coaching staff. We will get a firsthand look at him in Latrobe at training camp, as it will be a battle to watch between him, McFarland, and Graham. 

Who do you think ultimately wins the No. 3 job in Pittsburgh. Do you think they will carry three or four running backs on the 53-man roster? Do you agree with Moats that Hagans makes sense as a possible replacement for Snell?