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.”
[RELATED: Either/Or Scenario Looming With Russell Wilson, Justin Fields]
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.
Ah, the Tomlin defender. A guy who’ll applaud mediocrity and use the cyclical nature of other franchises as the defense
It’s old. It’s tired. It’s patently ridiculous. Read Joe Starkey’s column in yesterday’s PG and use it as my comeback.
Exactly.
The same people who ran Arians out of town after deciding he was a bum who was holding the team back only to watch him win two Coach of Years with two different teams and a Super Bowl with a third have pinpointed a different cause of all their ills.
Do it again, please.
Get your head coach version of Todd Haley. Go ahead.
Then your head coach version of Randy Fichner.
Then your head coach version of Matt Canada.
I want to see it.
A SB with Tom brady. COTY with Andrew luck after the story of the reason he was interim coach paganos leukemia. A blind kid could’ve done those things.
Tomlins message has soured – he has a great history and can still be a good coach but it’s time to be somewhere else…
A blind kid.
There is no achievement that yinzers won’t wave away as not as good as their utopian fantasy strawman would have done.
Coach of year after being thrust into the job unexpectedly? Blind kid coulda dun it.
Winning a Super Bowl with a roster of new parts assembled on the fly? Blind kid could dun it…cuz you know Brady. Except there were 17 or 18 seasons where he didn’t win. Blind kid failed those years, I guess?
Never having a losing season no matter the roster for 18 years in the best league in the world? Blind kid coulda dun it.
It’s so easy even a pea brain like 66thenumber could do it!
Completely idiotic response but with you, it’s par for the course. Continual blather from a Tomlin apologist, a guy whose lone defense is, well, look at other teams
I used to support Tomlin. You know, back when he had players that Cowher drafted.
The guy is a motivator. Nothing more
He’s stubborn and will only hire “yes” men as assistants.
Out strategized, out coached game in and game out. The message got stale. The fellas quit on him during the Eagles game and it was downhill from there.
But blather on, buddy.
You wanted Arians gone, right? Be honest.
I’ve seen this fish before.
Also, the “Cowher’s players” is the DUMBEST of the yinzer talking points.
Bill Cowher wanted to draft Shawn “Ate his way out of the league” Andrews over Ben and luckily Colbert ignored him.
Cowher didn’t win with “Cowher’s players” and that’s why Tomlin ever got the job.
But, no for real, fire a coach who gets 2 to 3 wins more than his roster warrants year after year because he doesn’t win 6 more than he should.
I want that for you.
Things will turn right around, just like they did once that bum Arians was bounced as this astute fan base and media sagely demanded.
Your usage of pretzel logic is admirable. It must be impressive at the corner bar. They probably have pictures of you on the wall
Your continual tactic of distraction is actually quite humorous. Here, you point to Arians. And Cowher. Next, it’ll be LeBeau. Or Haley. Or Munchak…..
Two national commentators remarked how the Steelers quit down the stretch as they did games. A couple of talk show gurus intimated the same on their broadcasts. On this, again, you have no answer. Only word salad
You can relax. The Rooneys love permanence. And like you, mediocrity. Tomlin is the face of the franchise and essentially runs all facets. It’s why this conversation will continue for years to come. With your approval.
No actually I didn’t want Arians gone. Cowher literally won a SB with his guys. Can’t lie you’re decently unbearable
Nice edit btw. Canada and fichner are EXACTLY why Tomlin has to go. Under qualified coaches he hires for no reason but yeah those guys are supposed to help your baseless, tactless argument here
It was, I forgot how much worse things got after a good coach was baselessly blamed and run out of town so I added them, too.
Rooneys hired Haley. Ben hired Fichner.
You can absolutely blame Tomlin* for Canada. Hiring and keeping Canada is by far the biggest blemish on his resume and I said it all along.
*But this criticism ignores the part where the Rooneys won’t offer decent pay to assistants so he’s limited in what he can hire.
Calling Canada a good coach just shows how absolute little you know about the game of football
Easily could’ve packaged up for a QB lol.
Yes. They’d have had to do a little work to get Herbert but given where they’d have been the draft order, it would’ve been doable.
Their lack of foresight was disappointing
Name the package.
The “easy” package that would cause the Chargers to pass on a franchise QB.
2 firsts and a 3rd get it done. If a team is seeious about a QB then you give up picks which may surmount to nothing. Not to mention they could’ve dangled it to the giants who didn’t think highly enough of Herbert to pick him anyways. Plenty of ways it could’ve easily gotten done.
We went through this last year. A team that wants to draft a quarterback isn’t going to trade down instead.
The other team NEVER exists to them. Never.
Obviously the Chargers would have just passed on a 6’5 stud QB with a laser arm and moxie to take a trade that I don’t even think Madden GM mode would approve.
Sure the Ravens are better at almost every single position but it’s a failure to not have beaten them.
More utter stupidity.
How are the Ravens better each year and draft behind the Steelers?
How do their offensive schemes look modern while the Steelers look archaic?
Do you watch games, or is all your time spent on prepubescent debate style strategies?
Every time Tomlin’s name is whispered, you emerge from the shadows. It’s been years of the same apologies. It’s always someone else’s fault.
To them? Who do you think you are lol. Forgot you’re the smartest guy on here. Youre next in line for a GM job… you do realize in my UP scenario the GIANTS pick BEFORE the CHARGERS so the CHARGERS have no CHOICE but to PASS on the QB who literally WOULDNT BE THERE. Illiterate and determined to seem smart. The worst combo.
Yes, because the Giants would just give up that pick EASILY.
You’re the GM, my man. It’s easy for you.
Quick question…were the Steelers the only team that needed a QB that year?
No, they were not.
Did ANY OTHER TEAM trade up with Giants to draft Herbert?
No, they did not.
Why not?
Are they dumb, too?
It was a made up scenario about 5 dang years ago. In no world should you be taking this literal. This is why humanity is in the gutter. You people couldn’t be more dumb. More hard headed. Go root on your brownies or Bunguls. A lifetime of losing awaits.
And I’d be a better GM than you could ever dream of. But I’m already better at everything you could ever imagine doing.
Sure you are, Champ.
So, just for the record, it’s so EASY the Steelers and Tomlin are dumb for not doing it because it’s so EASY, but it’s also just a made up scenario that we shouldn’t be taking literally?
Hard to believe a guy called MyCommentIsBetter would have a narcissistic meltdown.
To be fair, he thinks trading up for franchise QB’s and winning coach of the year awards and Super Bowls is easy whereas I think it would be pretty hard given that 31 of the other best teams in the world are also trying to do those things.
So, maybe he just knows more.
We must be reading things differently, Oooof. I see one narcissist here, and MyComment isn’t he
Try to examine the logic employed by 66 within this and other threads when it comes to Tomlin. I understand the idea of being a fanboy, but to continually employ distraction from the point and “whataboutism” doesn’t fly with people who actually watch the games and have some ability to think
Tomlin has been a motivator in the past. The message only lasted 2/3 of the season.
Tomlin has long been a defensive-minded coach. That said, his demands for the offensive scheme can only be called odd after a 44 point barrage in Cincy after which time—by all accounts—he decided to prohibit Russ from audibling. Meanwhile, his defense got pushed around badly
And the list goes on
The guy was given too much authority here and the stubbornness precludes meaningful change. Guess you’re ok with that. Having him focus only on coaching duties and asking him to take on coaches with fresh ideas would be of benefit, to be sure
But like the other two pro teams in town, mediocrity seems to be the goal. And to guys like 66, that’s fine because fans could be cheering on the Bears or Giants year after year
Solid logic. And it comes out every time he feels the need to go full fanboy
But yeah. MyComment is somehow the narcissist
I mean, this comment is a tell: “And I’d be a better GM than you could ever dream of. But I’m already better at everything you could ever imagine doing.”
And he was just wrong about the Steelers being able to draft Herbert with the pick they traded for Fitzpatrick. I feel no need to argue about Tomlin right now.
I’ve never been wrong and I wasn’t wrong about anything I said
Never ever being wrong about anything with a double digit IQ is actually quite impressive.
Proud of you, Champ.
I’ve forgotten more than you ever learned skippy.
You should keep telling yourself this in a mirror.
Murf.
I bet that sounded a lot more funny in your head.
“A lot more funny.”
And your 4th grade English teacher dies a bit more inside.
Luckily, you are never wrong, so…it’s even funnier.
So, as has been my theme…these people don’t live in reality.
You can lead a horse to water but if the horse wants to shove it’s head up it’s own *** instead of drinking the water, well…
Then you laugh.
So, 5 Cups…including 3 over an 18 year long playoff streak (the longest in North American sports) winning more than any other team over the past 40 years while rostering some of the best players to ever play, including the two best players ever, is…
Mediocre.
…
lol yeah oof I’m considerably more important than you so not really concerned with your comments
lol. There you go again.
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
I’m sure that with a good tail wind you could leave Najee in your dust.
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.
Please no! Weird guy, bad numbers. Let him go somewhere else
He’s not versatile and dependable enough to resign. I’d pair Warren with a rookie back like Skattebo Ollie or Jordan James or look into getting Mixon or Dowdle in free agency for depth
Joe Mixon doesn’t become a UFA until 2027.
Isn’t he a free agent tho?
I’ve really been a supporter of Najee. Great attitude, seems like a solid guy, and I really kept thinking that with the right blocking/ game plan/ supporting cast/ whatever, he’s figure it out and blossom.
Didn’t happen, and I don’t think it ever will either.