It hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris in his first two seasons in the NFL. After a distinguished career at the University of Alabama, the Steelers selected Harris 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Anytime a running back gets picked in the first round, there will be enormous expectations. That’s the kind of pressure that was placed on Harris, who was expected to revitalize a dormant Pittsburgh backfield.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren evades a tackler in his rookie season against the New Orleans Saints.
In his first season, he saw a league-high 381 touches. That was an unrealistic trend for the young running back, especially if he wanted to have a long NFL career. Jaylen Warren's emergence in 2022 helped Harris stay a bit more fresh, leading to better results. In his second season, Harris began to show signs on why he was a first-round pick just two years ago.
Former NFL running back, Marshawn Lynch, who had his fair share of elite seasons, shared his top five NFL running backs via the "I Am Athlete" podcast. Lynch, along with another former NFL RB in LenDale White, appeared on the podcast that is headed by former NFL stars Adam "Pacman" Jones and Brandon Marshall. Shockingly, Lynch included a name that Steelers fans are familiar with:
"This ain't no particular order, but Najee, Derrick Henry, Saquon [Barkley], Josh [Jacobs], and [Nick] Chubb."
Harris' inclusion in the top-five may be a slight surprise, but his running style is quite similar to what Lynch's was. These kind of debates are all personal preference, and it seems Lynch seemed to opt for his preferred running back styles. Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers is the most notable omission, as he proved to be back to form in 2022. His 1,880 yards from scrimmage ranked third in the NFL, just behind Jacobs and Henry, two of the guys that Lynch referenced.
Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers running back Najee Harris (#22) stands on the field at Acrisure Stadium before a 2022 regular season game against the New York Jets in Pittsburgh, PA.
In comparison, Harris was just 22nd in the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 1,263. Other notable omissions from Lynch include Austin Ekeler and Aaron Jones. Lynch is a mentor to Harris, as they both come from East Bay. In the pre-draft process back in 2021, Harris signed with Lynch's Beast Mode marketing agency. In other words, Lynch's inclusion of Harris may have been a bit of bias. Regardless, the Steelers running back has the talent to become a top-five guy.
What are your thoughts on Lynch saying Harris is a top-five RB in the NFL? Do you think Harris can eventually get to that point? What are your expectations for him in his third season in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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