As the Pittsburgh Steelers approach the offseason, their primary focus is on addressing the issues plaguing their offense. Among the various changes anticipated, there’s growing uncertainty surrounding Najee Harris’ immediate future with the team.
The Steelers have until May 2 to reach a decision regarding Harris’ fifth-year option, a contract that would pay him a substantial $6.7 million.
Art Rooney and his team are carefully evaluating this choice, weighing the options to determine the most favorable course of action for the Steelers’ running back position, as reported by Tim Benz of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“A lot of thought, a lot of analysis goes into making those decisions,” Rooney said. “We’ll be working on that as well as all the other things we have to do in the offseason, but that’ll be a key decision as we get closer to the draft in May.”
Najee Harris recently concluded what many consider to be his finest NFL season to date.
Starting in all 17 games, Harris carried the ball 225 times, accumulating an impressive 1,035 rushing yards and recording eight touchdowns. Both the touchdown count and his average of 4.1 yards per carry marked new career highs for him.
In each of his three seasons in Pittsburgh, Harris has consistently surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Across a total of 51 games, all of which he started, Harris has amassed 3,269 rushing yards and reached the end zone 22 times.
However, Harris’ long-term future with the Steelers is far from guaranteed. The value of running backs in the NFL has seen a decline in recent years, making it a challenging position to invest heavily in. Additionally, the Steelers possess another capable running back in Jaylen Warren.
Najee Harris undoubtedly silenced his critics with an exceptional and explosive performance in the 2023 season. Yet, despite his accomplishments, it remains uncertain whether he has convinced the Steelers that he should be their RB1 for the immediate and foreseeable future.
Want the latest NFL and NCAA Football analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
