Pittsburgh Steelers have left fans stumped after the decision to decline Najee Harris’ fifth-year option. Despite three straight 1,000-yard seasons, Harris’ current position is pushing the fans to question the NFL trend.
Presently, it seems that the NFL teams are not heavily invested in retaining running backs, beyond the short-term deals or rookie contracts. And as Harris’ future is shrouded in doubt, the Steelers’ General Manager opened up about the RB’s contract status. And Russell Wilson finds it quite reassuring.
The NFL star QB, Wilson, took to his IG post to reshare the post by Steelers Depot, which quoted Khan’s statement regarding Harris: “I’d love to say Najee was here and had a long career in Pittsburgh.” It doesn’t rule out Harris’ prospects for a long-term deal with the Steelers. Super Bowl Champion is particularly pleased with this, evidently displaying his happiness by dropping three crown emojis on his Instagram story for Harris, tagging @najee_harris on his story.
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In the latest interviews, Khan also admitted, “It was a business decision that we had to make by May 2.” He further validated Harris’ prospects by remarking, “But Najee’s awesome to have around here. Love Najee as a player and a person. Just because we didn’t pick it up doesn’t exclude us from doing something with Najee long-term.” This has been a redemptive statement for Harris’ fans, who were disheartened till now. As Omar Khan is hopeful regarding Harris, it may be likely that Harris will return beyond 2024. Moreover, Arthur Smith, who serves as the new offensive coordinator has a preference for a run-heavy offense, which is likely to benefit Harris. But everything depends on how the deals will roll out for Harris in due course of time. If no deal is reached this summer, Harris will have to play for a new contract this coming season.
The future prospects of Najee Harris
Harris has not yet publicly addressed the current scenario regarding the decline of his fifth-year option. This decision means Harris will be a pending free agent after the season. However, he will shed light on all of this during Steelers training camp. As the Alabama football star is entering the final year of his rookie deal, he is not practicing currently despite participating in the voluntary OTAs. And, GM Omar Khan has refrained from elaborating what exactly the “business decision” refers to. The fifth-year option would have otherwise guaranteed Harris $6.79 million for 2025. The reason behind this decision is still unclear, whether it was regarding the concern for not allocating a high amount for Harris’ position, or it could be other financial considerations. While Khan personally disclosed the decision to Harris, he has not yet revealed Harris’ reaction, stating that he wants the public to respect the privacy of the entire matter.
Despite his phenomenal yardage totals, the average of more than four yards per carry has only occurred once (2023). On the other hand, Jaylen Warren, a versatile back, has been signed as a restricted free agent, which has perhaps made the situation more complex. Signing a long-term deal after being declined in the same season is a rare occurrence, but still, Harris’ fans have their hopes high. As Harris is set up to play for a new deal this fall, all eyes are on him.