Max Hurleman

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Steelers secured solid depth value by locking up Max Hurleman on a modest $0.9M deal that earns a C+ CVI — a fair contract for what projects as a reliable backup running back option. At just under seven figures annually, Pittsburgh isn't breaking the bank for a player who figures to compete for the third or fourth spot on the depth chart behind their established veterans. The one-year structure gives both sides flexibility, allowing Hurleman to prove he belongs in the NFL while keeping the Steelers' financial commitment minimal if he doesn't pan out. For a team that's historically found value in the running back room through shrewd signings and late-round picks, this represents a low-risk investment in roster depth. The C+ CVI reflects exactly what this should be — an unremarkable but sensible move that addresses depth without any significant downside, giving Pittsburgh another body in camp while maintaining salary cap flexibility for bigger priorities.

Performance Analysis

Max Hurleman is a below-average performer at the running back position through his rookie season, with a D+ performance grade that reflects limited statistical output relative to the opportunities he has seen. The most notable production in the data is 33 receiving yards across three games, a modest figure that nonetheless signals some utility as a pass-catching option out of the backfield. The glaring weakness is sheer volume — three games of work with that level of accumulation puts him squarely in the depth-piece tier, and there is nothing in the numbers yet to suggest he can carry a significant offensive role. His defensive contribution of two tackles adds a footnote of special teams or situational value, but that is roster-filler production, not the profile of a feature back. What makes Hurleman's story genuinely interesting is the disconnect between his performance grade and a sentiment grade that has held steady at A- — the "Tom Cruise" nickname, the backflip touchdown celebration, and the "out-of-nowhere" media framing have generated a level of goodwill that his stat line alone never could. The Steelers bringing him back on minimal guaranteed money is an organizational vote of measured confidence — they see developmental upside in a 24-year-old still in his first season, even if the production has not yet materialized. With the regular season 131 days out, Hurleman sits in the rare and precarious position of a player whose reputation has dramatically outrun his résumé — the next training camp will be the first real test of whether the hype has any statistical foundation underneath it.