Four years ago, Najee Harris and the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed like a perfect match. However, it appears they may be headed for a separation. As noted by Pro Football Talk on Tuesday, the opportunity for the Steelers to negotiate a deal with Harris is rapidly diminishing, making it unlikely that the team will retain the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout.
This indicates that Harris might be in line for a new team next year. “Whether the Steelers will re-sign him remains to be seen. Their exclusive negotiating window is shrinking by the hour,” stated Mike Florio said.
While at Alabama under esteemed head coach Nick Saban, Harris joined a legacy of impressive running backs including Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs. He has consistently performed well during his time with the Steelers, rushing for over 1,000 yards in all four seasons and accumulating a total of 4,312 rushing yards in the NFL.
However, his performance has not come without its critiques; he holds a career average of just 3.9 yards per carry. With the Steelers utilizing both him and Jaylen Warren, Harris’ touchdown count has not reflected his potential. Consequently, the prospect of Harris and the Steelers parting ways isn’t entirely surprising—it appears to be a situation that hasn’t fully materialized.
As the running back market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see where Harris lands. There may be several teams willing to take a chance on a player who has consistently produced at the NFL level. Ultimately, that’s what teams seek in their roster decisions.
We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for both Harris and the Steelers.
