Steelers' Expected Offer To Najee Harris Prior To Free Agency Revealed

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of controversy heading into the 2025 offseason regarding the quarterback and wide receiver positions. That's just the beginning, however, when it comes to the offense. The unit needs to take a massive step forward if the franchise wants any chance of competing in a conference that is stacked with firepower. One of the areas that is also in limbo as the new league year approaches is running back. Jaylen Warren will likely hang around as he is a restricted free agent, but 2021 first-round pick Najee Harris might be looking for a new home in the near future.

Pittsburgh could certainly be in the market for a ball-carrier when the 2025 NFL Draft rolls around, but taking a chance on one in the first four rounds or so isn't necessarily likely if Harris were to return. All expectations are that he won't be back because the Steelers declined his fifth-year option for 2025 that was expected to be right around $6.7 million.

There has been some speculation recently about Harris and the prospect of him returning. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provided some more analysis about the situation on Friday, and fans may be surprised to know that Harris coming back is a lot more likely than people may think. The Steelers weren't comfortable committing to a fifth-year option, but after the 2024 campaign, the team may now be open to extending the running back.

"If he is re-signed, it is expected to be a two or three-year deal that would average between $7 million and $10 million annually," Dulac wrote. "Of course, it is up to Harris if he is willing to accept an offer, though it might be prudent."

The Steelers certainly understood the risk of passing on Harris' fifth-year, but were willing to accept the consequences if it resulted in an extension at a price point of over a couple more million annually over the course of a few years. There's no doubt that Harris is as durable as they come, but the question remains to whether or not he can get the proper offensive line in front of him.

Dulac gave some more insight about Harris and the expectations surrounding him as the offseason gets ready to real kick into gear. It's not just possible that he returns, but Steelers fans could know the team's starting running back for 2025 prior to knowing which individual will be under center at quarterback. Re-signing Harris might be imminent.

"There is a strong possibility he could be signed to a new contract before the start of free agency on March 12," Dulac noted.

It was also mentioned by Dulac that running backs on the free agent market may not be given good deals prior to the draft because of how deep the class is coming out of college. If Harris and his camp want to find some sort of stability before an uncertain draft occurs, it's possible that he would be willing to stay in the place he knows best, which is Pittsburgh. That could come with him re-signing at a discounted price. This could absolutely benefit all parties involved if it does occur.

Steelers Need Consistency On Offense Moving Forward

Pittsburgh has not had a very fluid offensive structure since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. There have been multiple coordinators involved in the scheme and several different quarterbacks, which has led to inconsistency and a lack of leadership. The 2025 offseason is crucial for the organization in terms of setting the unit up for future success. If signing Harris to a two or three-year deal accomplishes that, then fans should be all in favor of the move.

Do you want to see the Steelers re-sign Harris? Let us know in the comments below!

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