The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Najee Harris, a running back in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He broke the team's rookie rushing yards and receptions record as the Steelers made the playoffs by going 9-7-1. Pittsburgh was heavily criticized for selecting a running back in the first round because in the modern NFL, you just don’t pick running backs that early. But they were not the only team to pick that position in the first round in 2021.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
With the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars used their second first-round pick on Travis Etienne from the Clemson Tigers. Both running backs were the centerpiece of NCAA powerhouse programs with Harris playing on two National Championship teams for the Alabama Crimson Tide and Etienne playing on one National Championship team for Clemson. Both backs were considered the top players in a deep running back class that has produced seven other potential feature backs taken in the second through sixth rounds.
Jarred Wickerham/Pittsburgh Steelers
Harris has struggled mightily in his second season and is facing more stacked boxes than any running back in the NFL not named Derrick Henry. Observers have chalked it up to possible injury if they are charitable and those who aren’t are comparing him to Trent Richardson. What most observers are not doing is comparing him to the man that the Steelers did not draft in his place, Etienne. Spending a first round pick on a running back doesn’t seem to inspire the same vitriol for the Jaguars.
Etienne missed his entire first season due to injury while Harris was turning in a fantastic Pro Bowl rookie season, made all the more impressive when considering the Steelers offensive line was atrocious last year. Harris rushed for over 100 yards three times during his rookie season and added nearly 500 yards from scrimmage receiving to his 1,200 rushing yards. He faced multiple stacked boxes during the 2021 season, but the Steelers found enough holes in the defense to catapult Harris to the perception of a top NFL running back heading into 2022.
Etienne has now played in 9 NFL games compared to the 25 that the Steelers lead back has played. During those 9 games, Etienne also has 3 100-yard rushing performances, and he played so well that the Jaguars dumped James Robinson who rushed for over 1,000 yards just two seasons ago in his rookie year. Etienne is a speed merchant with exceptional burst through holes in the Jaguars offensive line. He is a good receiver out of the backfield and when you watch him play, you understand he is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.
Steelers' Jerome Bettis (#36) and Ben Roethlisberger (#7) line up against the Chicago Bears in 2005. (steelers.com)
The Steelers had phenomenal success with Jerome Bettis in the 1990’s and based on the recent success of Henry in the NFL, picking Harris who seemed the physical equal of his fellow Crimson Tide running back seemed logical. But less than two seasons in, if you were betting on the future performance of a 2021 draftee, Etienne is cementing himself as the top pick in the class. The question is if the Steelers were committed to running back in the first round and scouted extensively, why did they ignore the Clemson Dynamo?
Harris rushed the ball 638 times in college for 3,843 yards and caught an additional 80 passes for 781 yards, while scoring 57 touchdowns during four seasons. He was only the Crimson Tide lead back his junior and senior seasons. Etienne rushed the ball 686 times in college for 4,952 yards and caught an additional 102 passes for 1,155 yards and 78 touchdowns. He outgained Harris by over 1,500 yards during his college career and scored over 20 touchdowns more than his Crimson Tide counterpart. However, it was rumored that Etienne wasn't even the Steelers second choice after Harris in last year's draft.
Associated Press
The question is what was the deciding factor for the Steelers? Was it just size, or the hope they were drafting Henry 2.0? The Steelers don’t often explain personnel decisions to the fan base, but based on the success of Etienne after sitting out his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury, maybe they should. Harris stated during training camp that he had sustained a Lisfranc injury of his own and played with a steel plate in his shoe for multiple games this season. The Steelers not only did not sit him down, but have given him a heavy workload thus far.
At 2-6 and Etienne performing at a high level, are the Steelers forcing Harris into stacked boxes to prove they made the right choice? Pittsburgh still has a chance with T.J. Watt returning against the New Orleans Saints, but Harris must play a huge role in the turnaround. If he is not healthy, undrafted free agent Jaylen Warren has earned an extended look while Harris recuperates and rehabilitates a foot injury that doesn’t just get better on its own. Based on the draft capital they spent on Harris, if he is at all limited, it would make sense to sit him down, even if he does want to keep playing.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did the Steelers choose wrong with Najee Harris, or is his injury lingering and affecting his performance? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
