A report from January indicated the Steelers would likely pick up running back Najee Harris‘ fifth-year option. The team has instead gone in the other direction, per multiple reports. Harris is thus on track for free agency next offseason. 
[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
As is the case with all backs drafted early, Harris faced massive expectations upon arrival in Pittsburgh. The Alabama product earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie, totaling 1,200 rushing yards while also hauling in 74 receptions. Over the past two seasons, Pittsburgh’s offense has regressed in the passing game but Harris’ ground production has remained steady.
The 26-year-old racked up 1,034 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, recording one more yard and one more score on the ground this past season. Harris has, however, done so while logging a substantial workload and struggling with efficiency. His yards per carry average sits at 3.9 for his career, and he has logged 978 touches through three years. Especially given the market at the RB position, concerns related to his durability may have informed the Steelers’ decision.
Pittsburgh would have owed Harris $6.79MM next season by picking up the option. Today’s move leaves that off the table, although ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports the team is still open to working out a deal keeping him in place beyond 2024. Needless to say, much will depend on Harris’ performance this season as he shares time with Jaylen Warren.
The latter played sparingly as a rookie in 2022, but he took on a notable role last season. Warren averaged 5.3 yards per carry while adding 61 receptions for 370 yards in the passing game. That has led to calls for the former UDFA to receive a larger share of the Steelers’ offense than Harris, and it will be interesting to see how new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith divvies up the work between the two. Given the team’s heavy investments up front during this year’s draft, Pittsburgh is set up for a ground-heavy attack.
While this decision creates a degree of uncertainty in the backfield, the same is true under center entering the 2024 season. The Steelers have also declined Justin Fields‘ option, leaving he and projected starter Russell Wilson on track for free agency next offseason. How Pittsburgh’s offense takes shape – and the degree to which Harris is involved – will be a key storyline to follow.
Ok, this is a head scratcher.
Yeah that doesn’t make a lot of sense. It was what sub 7 million?
That’s a lot for an RB, It is likely they can resign him at that same number next year if they really need to. If he gets hurt or falls off this year, they are locked in at that number.
Agreed. After the picks and moves they’ve made I would think that he’ll prosper more so than prior years.
Maybe they will try to lock him up on an extension instead of playing under the 5th year
Then why not pick up his option? It makes no sense to decline a 5th year if you want the guy
Because you can still negotiate a contract at a lesser AAV… it makes sense. See ; Jordan Love
Because they don’t want the guy. He is way overhyped. There are more starting or time share backs in the league I would take over him than ones I wouldn’t.
He averages less than 4 ypc, they can find anyone to do that.
I made the mistake of drafting him for my fantasy team…never again!
It’s hard to run the ball when you have really bad QB play
Jaylen Warren managed a yard per carry more with the same QBs, line and OC.
Teams didn’t stack the line to stop the backup RB, either.
I like Warren. I like his quick bursts. And truly, I think him being part of a 1-2 tandem as he is really benefits him. Can he be a RB that takes all or most carries over the course of a long season? I guess that’s the question
I get the commentary that Najee’s contract is just too high and if he has a similar season, they’ll simply attempt to re-sign him at a more team-friendly deal. I like Najee and think he’s under-valued by many fans. And I’d be surprised if his service are coveted by other teams that are willing to pay more than the Steelers. But that’s life
They seemed to have solved their offensive problems this off season—save for a stud receiver, only to have a number of contractual problems coming next season.
*”…aren’t coveted….”
No it’s not ! I averaged 4.5 yards a carry.
Sincerely,
Breece Hall
Drafting a running back in the first round is generally bad value, but doing it when you need a lot of offensive line help is especially egregious.
Kevin Colbert did a lot of great work for the Steelers, but his last two first round picks being Harris and Pickett is rough.
Disagree 100%
You can’t judge Najee with the poor offensive line play he had in front of him for almost all of his first two years here. All too often, he got the ball at the same time the D-line was getting to him. Barry Sanders couldn’t have done much better. Add to this playing behind a QB whom defenses had no fear of and stacked the box against.
He still had productive seasons and didn’t miss a game.
And watching him behind Rudolph, with an improved O-line in front was much more representative of his play
I’m hoping they extend him because really, this is a mistake
You’re helping the case that drafting a running back that high when you should be building your line or more valuable positions is misguided.
Hey, I’m not disagreeing with your original point. But they have Najee now. To me at least, he’s prove his worth
I’m not a Steelers fan, but I was screaming at my T.V. for Pittsburgh to draft Creed Humphrey at that spot. I didn’t hate the Harris pick, and still don’t, but Humphrey was exactly what they needed after Pouncey’s departure (and aging). Seeing Humphrey turn into a stud center in Kansas City further confirmed my thoughts.
I thought Harris filled a need in Pittsburgh, but after watching possibly the best offensive line unit in the league age and retire out into categorically and emphatically the worst made me think that Harris would have a tough time being productive. The interior of that line was so strong for so long, and Harris being the power inside runner that he was, that was the part that the Steelers really needed to be good. Unfortunately, it was a complete and utter disaster, which led to bad production from Ben, the run game, and everything else that followed.
I’ve always thought you were too grounded and sensible to scream at a TV. I’m comfortable with my mental stability because I only scream at my computer.
It was actually a computer, probably. I rarely turn the T.V. on to begin with. I figured T.V. was easier to say.
As usual, you’ve corrected me.
Does your computer sulk when you raise your voice about the content it displays?
My iPhone screen vibrates when I get in a hurry to read comments!
I think the only time my computer might sulk is when I balk at spending over an hour installing updates that are mostly useless.
I was doing the same. I wanted Christian Darrisaw, but when Minnesota picked him with the pick right before Pittsburgh, I wanted Creed Humphrey. Then I about broke the tv when Pittsburgh passed on him AGAIN in the 2nd rd to take an average TE.
But do you disagree with Gibbs in DET or Robinson in ATL getting drafted in the 1st round?
I disagree with drafting either of them that high. Robinson was a first round talent, but I thought eight was rich. Taking Gibbs with Gonzalez on the board seemed wild for Detroit.
I agree that his O-line and QB play certainly did him no favors especially in year 1 and 2. However, Warren averaged about 5.0 YPC the last 2 years behind the same line. Less carries, yeah, but the reality is Najee is a power back who lacks explosiveness. After this year he’ll be 27 and looking at recent history with running backs, that’s around the time they really fall off (Melvin Gordon, David Johnson, Dalvin Cook, Zeke, Leonard Fournette, etc). I would’ve loved to see him run behind a better line, but now it’s time to move on and draft someone else
Good analysis of the type of runner Najee is. Followed him at Alabama and yes, he was the kind of back who’d break runs to the outside after initially getting through a hole. He rarely had that option available to him here. Your *explosiveness* note describes Warren’s style quite well
I get what you’re saying about age. I just think these guys make a dynamic 1-2 punch and as such, it mitigates the age idea
Will be interesting to see how this is explained via media
Warren seemed to be effective with the same offensive line, Harris is trash.
That’s not true. Warren had more explosive runs, and a higher average as a result, but when he ran up the middle or without Harris, he was much less effective. Warren’s effectiveness directly played off Harris’ efforts inside.
I don’t dispute that Warren was more efficient, but to say that Harris is trash is a gross oversimplification. He isn’t perfect, obviously, and like most players, needs to be in the right position to succeed. Canada didn’t-he ran Harris too much outside, and too often from the shotgun. I remember watching Steelers games, and paying attention to where Harris lined up. I wanted to answer the question of whether he was bad myself. I found that it was pretty predictable how well he did on a run depending on where he lined up. If Harris lined behind the quarterback when the QB was under center, and ran up the middle, he usually had a positive play. Most of his negative plays came on outside runs or shotgun runs where he couldn’t get his legs going. Now, Harris isn’t completely incapable in those areas, but he is noticeably better in the former sets.
As I said below, this became really evident when Sullivan took over the offense. They ran Harris more effectively, and he produced much better. Of course, having a better passing game helped relieve some of that loaded box pressure, too. Once Harris gets going, he also gets better runs as they pile up, even on passes or outside.
So, no, Harris is not trash, and Warren definitely benefited from his doing the dirty work inside. I could be wrong, but I think that if Smith does more of what he ran Henry on in Tennessee that Harris could benefit this year.
Ah, Smith.. get ready for more play action passes on 3rd down after running it the first two.
TRASH!!!!! DONT FORGET TO BAG YOURSELF UP GOOD ON TRASH DAY
Barry sanders had a terrible o-line
Najee is average at best- 25 guys in the league I’d rather have probably more
The right move. He’s not a bad back but a rather large disappointment as a first round pick. He’ll also be 27 after this season, so the unfortunate reality is that there’s probably not much tread left on the tires. Let him walk after this year and draft a mid round back in 2025
I hope this means they give Jaylen the contract or if anything the tag on him.
Warren being the second option in a timeshare (averaging 8.76 carries per game) suggests he likely won’t be tagged. I can’t imagine he’ll outcarry Harris this season. He may get extended or eventually re-signed, I just don’t think they’ll want to pay him big to tote the ball that few times.
Then it was dumb to draft him in the 1st round.
1st round rbs make sense if you get a guy for 5 years. If you don’t think or dont pick up the option just wasted a first round pick.
Agree, that’s why teams are primarily taking QBs, WRs, DEs and OL in the first (the costliest cap positions). RBs are a dime a dozen unless they find that rare gem (which can be had anywhere in the draft).
Yup, it felt like there was a ton of pretty good RBs available this winter. Sometimes it is better to simply buy talent than to draft it.
Harris, it should be noted, looked exponentially better after Canada was fired. The Steelers finally switched to running him more inside down the middle, and less from the shotgun too. Harris responded very well. Smith figures to do a lot of that, so I’d expect Harris to have a better year this year, barring injury. I’d consider the option a good value to see if they want to extend afterward or drop him, in lieu of making a preliminary decision right now before seeing how Harris does during the year.
People forget that Pittsburgh traded for Cordarrelle Patterson, whom Atlanta used mainly as an RB. Patterson made his name in the league as a KR but the Steelers are now floating the idea of ex-Bears QB Justin Fields returning kicks.
I looked that up because I thought you might have been joking about them considering using Fields as a KR, but I see you’re not. As someone who believes in Fields as a QB, I want to hate it. But I can also understand the thinking behind it, even if it is some mad scientist level scheming.
WTF.
You have a young guy with lots of talent, good intangibles who needs better coaching and another chance…so, OBVIOUSLY…
You want to have him return kicks while sitting behind a washed up diva.
Smart.
Agree with the gist you provide. Young guy, trying to rebuild his reputation. Yeah, let’s mess with his head and have him return punts
But just like calling Najee “trash” is moronic, calling Wilson a “washed up diva” is nonsense. Why not wait until October to make such a call?
Warren is by far the better back and costs a fraction of what Harris costs. $6 million is absurd for a plodder that regularly goes for 25 yards on 14 carries. His main attribute is his endurance.
The Steelers actually don’t traditionally utilize the 5th year option. I do believe that the last time the Steelers used the 5th year option was for T.J. Watt.
Maybe this isn’t really a surprise.
Maybe they should just trade out of all future 1st rounds
I’ve always been a big harris fan. I look for him to flourish with a new Oc, offensive line and a veteran QB. S good year will lead to a new contract. Plus they can always franchise tag him.
If he’s good, they can resign him or franchise him.
If he’s not good or gets hurt, they aren’t stuck.
This seems like a very easy decision, actually.
Harris is going to have a really great year this year. He won’t lead the league in rushing or carries but he will definitely benefit from Arthur Smith. His first year he caught 400 yards receiving with a 70%+ catch rate on 94 targets and in the 2 years since he hasn’t been targeted 94 times.
If they use him in the passing game and properly target him he will be in line for a great year even splitting with Warren.