The Pittsburgh Steelers added two running backs this offseason in Rico Dowdle and Travis Homer. While Homer is largely a special-teams player, Dowdle will be a big-time player alongside RB Jaylen Warren. However, the Steelers may still add to the position. Insider Tony Pauline reported that they are showing interest in Toledo RB Deamonte “Chip” Trayanum.
“Trayanum met with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles before and after pro day and has an official-30 visit set with the Seattle Seahawks,” Pauline wrote.
The Steelers may not have had a big contingent at Toledo Pro Day, but area scout Jim Ward attended the showcase. Toledo has a number of intriguing prospects, including S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and a pair of corners in Andre Fuller and Avery Smith.
According to Pauline, Trayanum opened scouts’ eyes with his testing numbers.
“One prospect who was not at the combine but put on a show for scouts was running back Deamonte Trayanum,” Pauline wrote. “The big back, who measured 5-foot-10.5 and 224 pounds at the Shrine Bowl, clocked the 40 in times that ranged from 4.52 to 4.56 seconds, ran the short shuttle in 4.18 seconds, and hit 37 inches in the vertical jump. Trayanum also completed 27 reps on the bench press.”
Obviously, running a 40-yard dash in the 4.5 range isn’t elite speed. However, to run that fast at 224 pounds is pretty darn impressive. Don’t be fooled into thinking Deamonte Trayanum is only a bruiser though. In 2025, he generated 5.6 yards per carry and ran for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns. During his college career, which spanned six seasons and was spent at four different schools, Trayanum averaged 5.3 yards on 428 carries. He also flashed some previously unseen receiving skills in 2025, catching 21 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
“I didn’t come in as a strong receiver out the backfield my first year in the college,” Trayanum said in an interview with our own Dr. Melanie Friedlander at the East-West Shrine Bowl. “But I knew that was an aspect I definitely needed to hit if I wanted to strive and be successful in the league.”
Obviously, we don’t know the nature of the meeting that Trayanum had with Jim Ward and the Steelers. It’s entirely possible that Ward had a few words with him before and after testing. It also appears that the Steelers weren’t the only team paying attention to Trayanum at his Pro Day, either.
Trayanum offers an intriguing blend of size and ability. He could be a running back who can play on any down as a runner and receiver. And he’s apparently on the Steelers’ radar, possibly as a late-round pick or priority free agent.
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