Steelers add to RB room with Anthony McFarland Jr. in 4th round

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Anthony McFarland Jr. out of Maryland in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, No. 124 overall.

McFarland joins a crowded running back room in Pittsburgh that includes James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, and Benny Snell. It's the third straight year the Steelers added a tailback in the middle rounds of the draft.

Prospect Profile

School: Maryland
Height: 5-8
Weight: 208 lbs

Positives

• Young running back that didn't accumulate many touches in college
• Slashing tailback who cuts on a dime and has good contact balance
• Very good speed for his size
• Able to absorb contact well and rack up additional yards
• Still effective on a poor Maryland team in 2019
• Slippery in the open field with a good burst through the hole
• Good vision and is able to work his way through traffic
• Always plays at full speed - never slows down

Negatives

• Neither experienced nor productive as a receiver in college and his pass protection needs work
• Not very effective on short-yardage/goal-line scenarios
• Doesn't possess ideal size or frame
• Below-average athlete for the position

Bottom line

After flashing abilities as a dynamic runner in college, McFarland heads to the NFL in need of some fine-tuning as a receiver. He profiles best as a zone runner, where he can see the hole and burst through it. There are tools here to work with, but McFarland will likely be part of a committee early in his pro career while he works on his receiving chops and pass protection.