4 players the Steelers should steer clear of in round one of the NFL Draft
By Tommy Jaggi
![American offensive lineman Carson Green of Texas A&M (55) drills with American offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood of Alabama (70). Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports American offensive lineman Carson Green of Texas A&M (55) drills with American offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood of Alabama (70). Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fstillcurtain-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F15498078-850x560-c2deed1d35a499434591a04fbbc40963a50fe5adff5be8d37cd01c95c65c08dd.jpg)
Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
I hate to burst anyone’s bubble with this, but all signs indicate that Najee Harris should not be a first-round pick. I like Harris. I think he’s a good football player and one that Pittsburgh should certainly consider in round 2 (in the unlikely event he falls that far). However, there are a handful of reasons why he is too rich for my blood at pick 24.
While the Steelers could live with the fact that he’s a senior (though they typically always stick with juniors in round one), Harris has a sizable amount of wear and tear on him as he touched the ball 718 times in his collegiate career. In addition, it’s a bit concerning that he couldn’t carve out a bigger role when working behind players like Josh Jacobs and Damien harris – especially considering he was the same age.
Harris will be 23.5 years old by the start of the 2021 NFL season. Assuming Pittsburgh gave him a fifth-year-option at the end of his rookie deal, this would make him 28 years old by the end of his rookie deal – two years past running back decline age (26). Like Le’Veon Bell, Harris should be a do-it-all-for-you running back, but his run could be very brief, and there just isn’t a lot of evidence to suggest that running backs should be taken in round one.