4 reasons Najee Harris should not be Steelers first-round pick

Harris is still just a running back, and Steelers need offensive line help first

Apart from his lack of breakaway speed, Najee Harris is the complete package at running back. However, he is still just a running back, and history shows us that we would be wise to avoid taking this position in the first round altogether. Even some recent running backs who were deemed ‘elite’ prospects end up falling well short of expectations.

Leonard Fournette is a perfect example. Fournette was a good enough prospect that he was drafted with the 4th overall pick in 2017. Yet he couldn’t even make it to the end of his rookie contract because his play was so subpar. Most of the best running backs in the league right now were drafted in the second round or later, and many backs who were taken in the first round never live up to lofty expectations.

Running backs can only ever be as good as their situation and the guys up front leading the way for them. While there will clearly be a big difference between Harris and the group of less-than-stellar running backs the Steelers have right now, the offensive line needs to be upgraded before we can expect true success from any running back.

I don’t dislike Najee Harris; I simply dislike the idea of taking him with the 24th overall pick in the draft. All of these factors show that Harris should be taken in the second round, but somebody is likely to bite on him sooner. Let’s hope it’s not the Steelers.