Steelers scouting report: RB Najee Harris is the definition of a workhorse

Projected role for the Steelers

Of Pittsburgh’s nine drafted players this year, Harris has by far the easiest role to predict. You don’t take a running back in the first round to have him be a backseat role in a committee. From the gate, Harris is going to be labeled the stater as a do-it-all running back.

The question for the Steelers still lies with their offensive line. While they addressed the position in both the 3rd and 4th round this year, they also lost three starters from the 2020 season (Maurkice Pouncey, Alejandro Villanueva, and Matt Feiler). It’s possible that their line could improve as a unit eventually with young players like Kevin Dotson and Kendrick Green in the mix, but Pittsburgh could struggle from the gate.

Regardless, Najee is going to tote the rock early and often in what will essentially become a role that closely resembles what Le’Veon Bell did for the Steelers from 2013 to 2017. Anthony McFarland and Benny Snell will get a drive here and there, but as long as Harris is healthy, he will be ‘the guy’ in the backfield for the Steelers moving forward.

The Steelers got themselves a quality running back in Najee Harris – something they were clearly missing on offense. However, the steep cost of a first-round pick still comes into question. Fortunately, Pittsburgh is going to give the rookie every chance to prove why they were right for taking him so high.