One of the surprise standouts for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2025 season was running back Kenneth Gainwell. Now, Pittsburgh may have to deal with the possibility of losing him in free agency.
If that happens, the Steelers will likely turn to the open market for a replacement. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, a strong group of running backs is expected to be available — including Tyler Allgeier of the Atlanta Falcons.
Tyler Allgeier Could Become Top Option for Steelers
Allgeier is among a notable list of backs potentially hitting the market this offseason. Others include Kenneth Walker III, Rico Dowdle, Travis Etienne Jr., Najee Harris, and even the Steelers’ own Kenneth Gainwell. But according to Ben Solak of ESPN, Allgeier could quickly rise to the top of the market for teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Denver Broncos.
“I expect a lot of running back movement this cycle, and cycle creates opportunity,” Solak wrote. “I won’t be the least bit surprised if Allgeier is a 1,000-yard rusher next season for the Steelers or Broncos — he can walk into those rooms and immediately become the primary ball carrier, and he has the frame and tackle-breaking ability to grind behind big offensive lines.”
Allgeier could be an affordable option for Pittsburgh. His projected market value is about $5.7 million annually, with a three-year, $17 million deal, according to Spotrac.
That price tag works well for Pittsburgh, even though the Steelers already hold the NFL’s seventh-most available cap space at just over $50 million.
Competition from Denver could complicate matters, however, especially with Sean Payton leading the Broncos. Payton has historically leaned heavily on the run game.
The Broncos also haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Phillip Lindsay in 2019, something Payton would likely want to change. Even former Steeler Harris fell short of that mark in Denver last season, finishing with just 772 yards.
Denver will also have less financial flexibility, entering the offseason with the league’s 14th-most cap space at about $20.9 million.
Steelers Could Look for More Reliable Rushing Production
Pittsburgh also failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher last season, with Gainwell finishing just short at 958 yards. The team’s last player to reach that mark was Harris in 2024 with 1,043 yards.
Gainwell did surpass 1,000 yards from scrimmage, largely because he became one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiving targets. Still, new head coach Mike McCarthy may prefer a more traditional rushing threat in the backfield.
Allgeier has shown he can provide that type of production despite spending much of his career behind Bijan Robinson.
After rushing for more than 1,000 yards during his rookie season, Allgeier shifted into a complementary role once Robinson was drafted the following year. Even so, he has remained consistent and reliable.
Over the past three seasons, Allgeier has totaled 1,841 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while serving as Robinson’s primary backup. Perhaps even more impressive, he has yet to record a single fumble in his four-year NFL career.
At this stage of his career, Allgeier appears to be a running back waiting for the right opportunity.
Pittsburgh could present exactly that kind of situation, especially if McCarthy prioritizes building a more balanced offense. If the Steelers decide to pursue him, Allgeier could emerge as one of the most intriguing free-agent additions to their backfield.
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