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Why Karlos Williams would be a smart move for the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger will need to rely heavily on Le'Veon Bell. (Image: SteelCityHobbies/Wikimedia Commons.)
Roar Rookie
6th October, 2016
2

This week the Baltimore Ravens released Justin Forsett, adding to the number of quality free-agent running backs still out there.

It’s amazing how the likes of Zac Stacy, Joseph Randle, and Andre Williams are still unsigned, while Joique Bell and Dri Archer have roster spots.

But the most talented free agent out there is Karlos Williams.

Williams was fantastic as a rookie for the Buffalo Bills in 2015.

The fifth-round pick out of Florida State managed nine touchdowns, with seven rushing and two receiving, in 11 games as a backup to LeSean McCoy. He even had a rushing average of 5.6 yards per carry and scored a touchdown in each of his first six NFL games.

That’s astonishing.

Williams is a talent and he deserves another shot in the NFL.

Granted, his offseason wasn’t brilliant, showing up out of shape, and he subsequently got suspended for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse.

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But Williams’ talent shines through.

Remember – he only moved to running back in his third career in college. Previously he had been a returner and backup safety.

He was never a starter either, with Dalvin Cook appearing just as he was beginning to come to grips with the position.

Yet he has all the attributes.

He’s big and strong enough to plow through tackles. He’s got soft hands to catch the ball out of the backfield.

And he’s fast, really fast.

He was extremely productive in a limited role, and can only get better as he gets used to the NFL.

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There is a lot of tread left on the tires, and he might come cheap to an NFL team looking to take a punt.

Someone like the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers were one of the teams that worked out Williams when he was initially released from Buffalo. His brother Vince is on the team.

From an outside perspective, the Steelers don’t need any more running backs.

Le’Veon Bell is one of the best in the league, and his backup DeAngelo Williams has shown that he is the best back-up in the game. I’m even a fan of David Cobb who is on the practice squad.

Yet Bell and Williams are just two of the 14 Steelers players that will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and Pittsburgh isn’t flush with cap space.

Granted it’s likely that some players like James Harrison, Lawrence Timmons, one of Landry Jones or Bruce Gradkowski, and possible even Jarvis Jones might depart, but that still doesn’t ensure both players will be on the 2017 opening roster.

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There’s a case that neither Bell nor Williams will be there, in which case Pittsburgh will be left with David Cobb, Fitzgerald Toussaint, and another practice squad member Daryl Richardson as their three running backs.

None of them are of the same calibre as Karlos Williams.

Will DeAngelo Williams return in 2017? It’s unlikely. 

He’ll be 34 years old, and he’s already the oldest running back in the league right now. The only reason to keep him would be as a safety net should Bell leave. Even still, DeAngelo’s $2.5 million salary would be better spent on Karlos Williams, who is a superior player.

Is Bell going to stay in Pittsburgh? That’s far from a guarantee.

In his four years in the league so far, two have ended with serious knee injuries, and two have started with Bell suspended for drug reasons.

On the field we know he’s good. He may even demand more than Pittsburgh is willing to give someone with his injury history and off-field issues.

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Should the Steelers decide they can do without the headache of Bell, they have the opportunity to draft a first-round grade running back in the 2017 draft, but that’s not ideal, especially given the questions over their pass rush and linebackers.

Which means the other option is to sign a replacement.

There are some talented running backs who will be free agents in the off-season, but there’s no guarantee that any of them will reach the open market or that they will be as cheap as signing Karlos Williams right now.

Karlos Williams has been a free agent for the last four weeks. His suspension has now been served.

He may be overweight right now, but that’s OK, Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams are there for the rest of the season, and if they both go down like they did last year, I’d much rather have Karlos Williams coming in than Cobb, Toussaint, or Richardson.

I know Karlos Williams isn’t as good as Bell, Murray, McCaffrey or Chubb, but he’s not far behind. He’s got the talent and the ability to be a top 15 running back in this league.

He just doesn’t have the opportunity.

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Come on Steelers, you know it makes sense.

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