Not picking up Najee Harris‘ fifth-year option, the Steelers also did not conduct any known extension talks before Week 1. A team with a no-in-season negotiating policy has either left this winter window open to re-sign Harris or is prepared to move on with Jaylen Warren and a cheaper option in 2025.
Although Harris could do well on the market, the Steelers are not closing the door on re-signing him before that point. While cautioning no franchise tag is coming to keep the four-year starter off the market, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac pegs the possibility of the Steelers re-signing Harris before free agency as “strong.”
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If nothing else, Harris has offered consistency in Pittsburgh. Added after the team let James Conner walk in 2021, Harris surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons and has never missed a game. After a 1,200-yard rookie season, he proceeded to churn out three seasons with totals between 1,034 and 1,043 yards. Each rookie-contract season featured yards-per-carry numbers between 3.8 and 4.1. Harris certainly does not bring much flash to the equation, but he has been a productive running back. And this year’s free agent market is not set to rival 2024’s.
The Saquon Barkley– and Derrick Henry-fronted class changed teams’ outlooks, and the accomplished group helped set the market for extensions. In the months that followed, 2025 free agents-to-be Conner, Rhamondre Stevenson and Chuba Hubbard signed re-ups worth between $8.3-$9.5MM per year. Alvin Kamara, who would have become a 2025 street free agent upon being a Saints cap casualty, instead reached a compromise to stay. New Orleans extended Kamara at two years and $24.5MM. The Lions did not appear on track to release David Montgomery in the final year of his three-year deal, but the sides huddled up on a second contract — a two-year, $18.25MM pact.
As 2024 proved busy at running back, it both set a potential price range for Harris and depleted the market. While the batch of extensions points to Harris landing a deal in that ballpark, the former first-rounder could do a bit better simply because teams have limited options. Then again, a 2025 RB rookie class is viewed as much better than 2024’s; that would stand to negate potential Harris market advantages.
As it stands, Harris headlines a free agency class that includes Rico Dowdle, Javonte Williams, Aaron Jones, J.K. Dobbins and Nick Chubb. The Broncos are not expected to bring back Williams, who has not been the same since a 2022 knee injury, and two significant maladies have defined Chubb’s past two seasons. Dobbins impressed with the Chargers and should do better on this year’s market, but the ex-Raven also landed on IR yet again last season. Jones turned 30 in December; Harris will turn 27 this offseason.
Harris and Dowdle may well be the prizes on the upcoming market; the latter is coming off a 1,000-yard season but has far less mileage on his career odometer (331 carries) compared to Harris (1,097). The Steelers and Cowboys, respectively, still have until March 10 to conduct exclusive negotiations with their starters. The Steelers would stand to have a low ceiling on where they want to go with Harris, as they passed on an option year worth $6.79MM and did not see him deliver a contract year out of step with his previous work.
While Harris may still be in Pittsburgh’s plans, Dulac adds the team will follow through on tendering Warren, who is a restricted free agent. A second-round tender is projected to cost more than $5MM, which could lead the Steelers to take their chances with the low-end number — one that would not bring any compensation back in the event Pittsburgh did not match a Warren offer sheet — to conserve cash. A reality in which the Steelers pay Harris would point to Warren being given the low-end tender.
God no.
Yeah he’s offered consistency… Consistently stopped behind the line.
His running style is more like Leveon Bell’s. Looks for a hole to form then goes. Problem is, with this O-line, he, the ball and the defense usually converge about the same time.
I’d love to see him play behind half the lines in the league instead of the slop they have here. Then we’d get a good estimation of his talent
Durable player. Wouldn’t mind re-signing him
He has no where close to Leveon’s ability. Doesn’t have the vision of Bell to be able to wait for a hole and hit it. The line in PGH is awful, but that’s the organizations fault for drafting a RB and a TE and then a QB and a WR the next year instead of building the trenches. Now they’re scrambling to fix the trenches by over drafting loser OT’s.. That may not be Najee’s fault completely, but he’s not nearly good enough to overcome it either. He’s probably the 28-35th RB in the league – and even Warren is more explosive.
You misinterpreted. I didn’t say he was Bell or had his ability. I said he had the same style. Relax
Warren is quick burst but he’s not a guy who can do it alone all game. And I doubt he’s gonna last 17 games
I’m interested to read who the Steelers should sign or draft that can run behind this line.
The answer is no one.
It’s the same argument where QB is concerned. Hard to tell what a guy can do when he’s under fire literally every time he drops back
But maybe you’ll get your wish. He’ll sign with Vegas and they’ll get a guy who still finds it hard to gain yards and takes a pounding
The teams a mess as a whole. They paid TE’s and Safeties before they built the trenches. They drafted WR’s, QB’s, RB’s TE’s before addressing the Line. I’m not disagreeing to the extent that Najee has a tough task behind this O-Line. That’s blatant. But that doesn’t mean if you put him behind, say the Lions O-line, that he’s going to do any better. He has 263 carries and less yards than Bucky Irving, a rookie, with 207 carries.
Don’t misconstrue, please. I’m not a huge fan of any of these guys (although if you put Najee behind the Eagles line, I think he’s much better)
They have a lot of overrated guys making incredible pay and getting incredible hype but as you say, there are so many problems here, I don’t know where they start
Both lines, I guess
Receivers
But they’re not solid in really any area of the game. Those last 5 games weren’t an aberration. They got pushed around. Bullied.
And really, it all begins with some new coaching philosophies
We’re on the same page no doubt it starts at the top
What happened to the run game in Pittsburgh? For years it seemed any RB would have huge #s. Even an older DeAngelo Williams was great filling in for some time….been awhile.
The line’s absolute dirty hot dog water. They’ve drafted 2 straight first round OT busts.
How is Fanu a bust? He got hurt after one good game and then couldn’t play?
.
Best ability is availability. If you’re not available you’re useless to the team. Not to mention – in Steelers country everyone complains Jones is played out of position. So do we play Fautanu out of position to compliment Jones? Or vice versa? The Steelers are PITIFUL at drafting. Especially over the last 10 years. Khan is in over his head. Tomlin’s message went stale years ago. This team is totally dead in the water.
I really thought bringing in Weidl was an under the radar win. The guy built the Eagles line
But from everything I’ve heard and read, this is all completely Tomlin’s team and he has his hands in all aspects.
You’re right
There are no Troy’s here. Or Heaths, Hineses, Aaron Smiths. And in a trade/waiver/signing sense, no Harrison’s, Farriors, Busses
I tend to think Colbert had a free hand as GM but towards the end, either lost the touch or had to add in the thoughts of Tomlin
Pickett. Jones. Porter…so many misfires lately
Watt is the last impressive 1st. That was I believe 2016 maybe 2017. Since then : Edmunds, Bush, trade for Minkah (lowest pick in years, could’ve had Herbert…..), Najee, Pickett, Jones, Fautanu.. That’s F tier drafting.
Agreed. Unfortunately for Watt, he’s double- and triple teamed here because there’s literally no D-line push. I like Cam but he’s getting old and can only do so much
They could not have had Herbert with that pick.
They could have if Tomlin wasn’t such a dunce, obviously.
If he was a better coach, they’d be able to draft players who are already off the board.
Watching Najee Harris in the open field makes me feel like I can run fast and I’m an overweight, middle-aged, 8-5 office worker with bad knees
League minimum power back
Let em walk.
Draft a RB early
I’d prefer drafting a huge back, but I see the logic in keeping Harris for maybe 1-2 more years to use draft picks on other needs right now.
Why? This is the deepest RB class in recent memory. He isn’t Derrick Henry, Saquan, Gibbs, etc. Let him walk and use that money somewhere else.