This offseason’s free agent pool is an interesting one, and there are some big names at running back. Last year’s Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, is set to become a free agent, joining Travis Etienne as some of the top options in the class. However, one that’s not getting much steam, despite coming off a career year, is Kenneth Gainwell.
Gainwell thrived in his lone year in Pittsburgh, leading the team in receptions and running the ball for nearly five yards per carry. While he will likely test the market, his value still doesn’t feel like it will be as high as someone like Walker or Etienne. Yet, to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Gainwell would be just as valuable of a signing.
“He was a really, legitimately useful player. And has been for the majority of his career… The production was there last year in Pittsburgh,” Barnwell said Wednesday on his Bill Barnwell Show. “You don’t want to pay for a Kenneth Walker, or a Travis Etienne? Like, I think Gainwell is gonna fit in right in that middle tier. He’s gonna get less than what Javonte Williams got. And I think he could be every bit as good of a player. Not as [Jeremiyah] Love, but as some of those other guys in free agency.”
Gainwell was efficient during his time in Philadelphia, but he was never a feature back. He wasn’t the lead back in Pittsburgh either, with Warren running the ball nearly 100 times more. However, he showed an ability to take over that role when Warren was out.
Warren had to miss the Week 4 game against Minnesota in Dublin. Gainwell stepped up, running the ball 19 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns, in what ended up being the first impressive run-game performance of the year.
Later in the year, the Steelers’ offense was shorthanded again at home against Cincinnati. Aaron Rodgers hurt his wrist, and Jaylen Warren was dealing with an ankle injury. Gainwell made an impact as a pass catcher for Mason Rudolph, catching seven passes for 81 yards, and two touchdowns. His size does hurt his chances of being a lead back in the NFL, but Gainwell did prove capable of stepping into that role when the Steelers were dealing with injuries last year.
Ultimately, the Steelers seem to want Gainwell back. However, it certainly makes sense for him to test his market. He was much more valuable than what the Steelers were paying him last year, and this might be his best chance to lock in a big-money contract.
However, as Barnwell says, his value doesn’t seem to be as high as Walker’s or Etienne’s. That doesn’t mean he’s not worth pursuing, though. At the right price, Kenneth Gainwell can be just as valuable to an offense as those two.
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