The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially declined the fifth-year option for running back Najee Harris ahead of Thursday’s deadline, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The fifth-year option would have paid Harris $6.79 million in the 2025 season, but instead, he’s now set to hit free agency in 2025 barring an extension (or franchise tag, though that possibility is unlikely).
Harris was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has been a cornerstone of the offense ever since, which made the option pickup a “no-brainer” for most. However, Steelers GM Omar Khan gave no real indication of the team’s intent to pick up Harris’ option prior to the deadline, which could have been telling. Dulac notes that his source says the Steelers would like to “see how Harris and the running backs perform in Arthur Smith’s offense.”
Since 2021, Harris leads all running backs in the NFL with 978 scrimmage touches while ranking sixth with 4,135 scrimmage yards. Given the poor quarterback play, offensive scheme and offensive line, the lack of overall efficiency isn’t a huge surprise, averaging just 3.9 yards per carry over his career. Still, Harris showed an improvement in his overall vision (and efficiency) in the 2023 season, with running back Jaylen Warren taking on a larger role in the offense.
Over the past two seasons, the Steelers have made a concerted effort to rebuild their offensive line, including the back-to-back first-round offensive tackle selections between Broderick Jones (2022) and Troy Fautanu (2023). They also drafted WVU center Zach Frazier in the second round and versatile OL Mason McCormick in Round 4 — a testament to the type of physical football this team is looking to play. It’s a very real possibility that fans will see Harris’ best and most efficient season to date in 2024 to set him up for a bigger pay day come free agency in 2025.
Harris was one of two fifth-year option decisions they had to make this year — the other being quarterback Justin Fields, who was acquired from the Chicago Bears via trade in March.