49ers Trade Partner No. 4: Pittsburgh Steelers
Not having running back James Conner for six games last year certainly hurt the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, and Conner’s efforts in 2019 were a far cry from what he produced in his 2018 outburst.
The hope is for Conner to return with effectiveness this season, but he’ll need some help.
No. 2 tailback Jaylen Samuels averaged just 2.7 yards per carry, while then-rookie Benny Snell Jr. averaged 3.9 yards per attempt and was essentially a non-factor in the receiving game. Maryland’s Anthony McFarland Jr. has some promise as a fourth-round NFL Draft pick, although he’s no more than an X-factor right now.
If the 49ers wanted to help Pittsburgh’s speed game, sending a player like Raheem Mostert would help alleviate any serious injury concern to Conner and provide an upgrade over at least two of the other runners on the Steelers depth chart.