Are James Conner’s days in Pittsburgh numbered?

Just this past season, the Steelers featured three running backs prominently in their offense, with James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, and Benny Snell all receiving snaps in the backfield. Regardless of those three guys on the roster, Pittsburgh chose to draft Anthony McFarland Jr. out of Maryland in the fourth round.

Coming out of Maryland, McFarland is a home-run hitter that averaged 6.9 yards per touch in college. While he could be added to provide depth next season, McFarland’s selection could spell the end of Conner’s time with the Steelers after the 2020 season.

Over the past two seasons, Conner has served as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 running back, but injuries have prevented him from reaching his potential. Altogether, in the past two seasons, Conner has missed nine games, which led him to finish with just 464 yards in 10 starts in 2019.

Nonetheless, Conner is entering the final year of his contract and how the 2020 season plays out will determine his future in Pittsburgh. Regardless of what Conner does though, the Steelers drafting Snell and McFarland in back-to-back seasons could be a sign of what is to come for Conner next offseason.