It may be a bit premature to consider the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2021 first round draft pick, Najee Harris a bust in his sophomore season. He battled a Lisfranc injury during the preseason and leading up to September, no one was sure how close he would be to 100%. He has looked much worse and less effective than he was during his rookie year as the ball carrier has only averaged 3.3 yards per carry and is clearly being outplayed by undrafted rookie, Jaylen Warren. Harris is beginning to be linked to a former Cleveland Browns first round selection at running back in 2012 and that is certainly not something to be flattered by.
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. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Many fans of the NFL remember the hype that surrounded University of Alabama running back, Trent Richardson after his incredible junior season in 2011. He ran for 1,679 yards and rushed for 21 touchdowns. Fast forward nine years later and Harris put up staggering numbers as well with 1,466 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. The two have a lot more in common other than simply where they went to college and how dominant their final seasons were.
Richardson came onto the scene in 2012 for the Browns and showed flashes of potentially being a franchise back in Cleveland. He had 267 carries, 950 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He added 51 receptions for 367 yards and a touchdown. Harris had a similarly productive first year carrying the ball 307 times for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 74 passes for 467 yards and got into the end zone three times.
As Harris totaled 1,667 yards all together in 2021, Richardson had over 300 less total yards with 1,317 when comparing the two's first seasons in the NFL. However, if you look at the first 25 games for each, it is almost identical as the Steelers ball carrier had 1,558 yards rushing and 552 receiving yards since the beginning of 2021, while Richardson had 1,327 rushing yards paired with 534 receiving.
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 23: Running back Trent Richardson #33 of the Cleveland Browns as he warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 23, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 34-12. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Richardson even had more total touchdowns than Harris has had in his first 25 contests and averaged 1.7 yards per catch more. To say that the two had eerily similar starts to their careers isn't an overstep at all. One of the main things that lingered and derailed Richardson's career was a knee injury he suffered during his final season at Alabama. Due to a heavy workload, he put up solid numbers in his first year with the Browns, but the injury caught up to him.
If the Steelers and their running back mismanaged his injury leading up to the 2022 season, it could have lasting effects on his quickness and ability to perform ankle-breaking moves out of the backfield. The former 3rd overall pick in Richardson was never particularly a great zone-read runner and it has been evident that Harris is currently struggling with hitting the proper holes and making the right decisions.
Najee Harris with that bad vision and slow to the hole
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) September 23, 2022
Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris (#22) looks on during training camp at Saint Vincent College in July, 2022. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Many people began to look at Richardson as a potential bust after the Browns traded him to the Indianapolis Colts during his rookie season. Pittsburgh won't be taking that approach with Harris, but if Warren continues to step up and run hard, it could make things extremely interesting come the off-season. Harris' script isn't written yet, but if he continues on this trend, we may be permanently comparing him to Richardson.
Do you think it is fair to start comparing the Steelers running back to the Browns' bust? Let us know in the comments below!
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