Steelers' Biggest AFC North Rival Critical Over Organization's Decision On Najee Harris

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a pair of important decisions to make by May 2nd, as they had to decide on the fifth-year options of both of the 2021 first-round picks on their roster, Najee Harris and Justin Fields. Fields was a bit of an easier decision, as he struggled during his time with the Chicago Bears and was traded to Pittsburgh for a conditional sixth-round pick. He hasn't done anything for the Steelers yet, so it was obvious his option would not be picked up. Harris' fifth-year option was more interesting, as fans seemed to be split on the decision. 

Pittsburgh waited until the last minute, 4 PM on May 2nd, to ultimately decline Harris' fifth-year option. The move came as a surprise to most, as Harris has been the only running back in the NFL to have over 1,000 rushing yards in the last three seasons. Granted, Harris has never averaged over 70 yards per game in a season, so most of his accomplishments stem from having a high usage rate out of the backfield. Oddly enough, Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens took to X to state his disagreement with the decision made by the Steelers organization.

There has been a lot of discussion around the running back market, and how a lot of running backs feel like they aren't being valued. Ahead of the 2023 season, it was Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants who couldn't agree to terms on an extension and Barkley ended up playing on the franchise tag and later signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Humphrey is stating the issue with the running back market overall, while also saying it is despicable that a consistent 1,000-yard rusher couldn't get his option picked up.

Had Pittsburgh picked up the option, Harris would have been guaranteed $6.7 million during the 2025 season. The Steelers are taking a huge risk as they bring in new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, who loves to utilize the run and was a big reason for Derrick Henry's success with the Tennessee Titans. If Smith is able to feature Harris in the same way he featured Henry, Harris will probably be signing a deal worth more than $6.7 million in free agency following the 2024 season. 

Jaylen Warren is another factor in this decision, as the Steelers found him as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft. He has been a pleasant surprise for Pittsburgh, and it is often argued whether or not he should see more touches than Harris. Warren is also a walking example of the "running backs grow on trees" argument, where people argue that teams shouldn't spend a lot of money or draft capital on a running back because there are plenty who can play the position at a high level. 

Steelers Are Finally Helping Harris On The Field

Harris has been running behind a below average offensive line for his entire professional career, and Pittsburgh has slowly been addressing that issue. Pittsburgh put the finishing touches on the offense line by drafting Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier, and they have been praised for the way they have built the unit up. Harris has also had to suffer through Matt Canada's horrific offense his entire career while playing one season with an older Ben Roethlisberger, and two with a mixture of a struggling Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and/or Mason Rudolph.

Now, Harris is expected to have better quarterback play with Russell Wilson, an improved offensive line, and a better offensive system from Smith. It seems as though he is set up to have a career year, especially after the Steelers put a chip on his shoulder by not picking up his option.

What do you think about the decision? Let us know in the comments below!

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