Max Hurleman

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Earning a D- Contract Value Index, Max Hurleman's 1-year pact reflects how Pittsburgh valued the position market for an undrafted rookie depth piece at $885K. His 2025 season production — 33 receiving yards across 3 games — aligns with that bare-minimum compensation; he was a reserve-level contributor operating in a developmental role, which explains why the performance grade sits at F despite the outsized media enthusiasm surrounding him. The salary floor for a depth running back in the modern NFL reflects this tier precisely, and the Steelers' one-year structure signals they're treating him as an evaluation-stage player rather than a young talent locked into a long-term bet. At 24 years old in his rookie season, Hurleman occupies the classic undrafted pathway: minimal guaranteed exposure, explosive preseason narrative, and everything hinging on translating viral special-teams moments into regular-season consistency. The media framing of his "meteoric rise" and Pro Bowl-caliber plays contrasts sharply with his actual output, which is a fascinating disconnect that the market has appropriately punished on the CVI side — this deal rewards Pittsburgh for taking a chance on a high-upside special-teams guy without overcommitting. The real test begins in 91 days when the regular season starts; if he produces at the level his preseason hype suggests, this sub-$1M contract becomes one of the year's steals, but that remains entirely contingent on translating camp success into meaningful game contributions.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Max's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Stacked against the RB field, Max Hurleman grades out at a F performance level for Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old rookie's 2025 season produced minimal counting stats — 33 receiving yards across 3 games — a profile that reflects both the limited opportunities afforded to depth pieces and the hard ceiling on production impact at this tier of roster contribution. His 2 tackles represent his only other statistical footprint, underscoring his marginal involvement in traditional offensive and defensive snaps during his early NFL exposure. What makes Hurleman's situation genuinely interesting is the complete disconnect between his on-field production and his media reception: the Steelers' preseason camp buzz around his athleticism, special-teams value, and infectious personality has generated A-minus sentiment coverage that frames him as a legitimate underdog story rather than a replacement-level depth flyer. The organization's choice to retain him on a minimal-money deal heading into 2026 suggests internal confidence in his developmental arc, even if last year's tape offers no empirical evidence of meaningful NFL-caliber production. For a player yet to prove himself in regular-season action, Hurleman occupies that rare narrative space where outsized positive media attention coexists with genuinely underwhelming statistical reality — a dynamic that will resolve only once the games count and snap counts reflect whether the athleticism has translatable value.

How Max Compares at the Position

Max Hurleman ranks 175th of 175 graded running backs by performance. The nearest peer ahead is Tahj Brooks (F).

Peers ranked by Performance grade among players at the same position. Tap any name for their full profile.

Current Sentiment

Max Hurleman carries a B sentiment grade right now, with the conversation around his Pro Bowl-caliber moments shaping the narrative. The media has seized on an unusually compelling underdog story — a former Notre Dame punt returner who has leveraged explosive athleticism and special-teams versatility into genuine roster consideration, complete with a viral "Tom Cruise" nickname and celebrated backflip touchdown that have become shorthand for his infectious energy and work ethic. Coverage from both local and national outlets has been unanimously positive, framing his rise as "meteoric" and "out-of-nowhere" rather than cautious or tentative, which reflects tangible on-field production rather than manufactured hype. This enthusiasm starkly contrasts with his 2025 season performance grade of F — a disconnect that reveals how narrative-driven sentiment can diverge from measurable output, though his rookie-season pedigree and the Steelers' decision to retain him despite minimal guaranteed money have reinforced media positioning of him as a rising talent with upside potential. Heading into the 2026 regular season, Hurleman occupies a rare space: he has shattered the typical perception ceiling for an undrafted depth piece while maintaining genuine underdog appeal, positioning him as one of the league's most compelling preseason-to-regular-season storylines to watch.