The Steelers found the true workhorse running back they have been missing. Here’s the good and the bad that comes with Najee Harris.
Since the start of the Steelers offseason after the disappointing playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh’s brass was adamant about improving the running game in 2021. When Najee Harris was available to them with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh essentially ran their card to the podium.
It’s now been over three years since Le’Veon Bell put on his Steelers uniform, and even during his final season in Pittsburgh in 2017, his efficiency took a major dive. In an effort to help out their aging quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers knew the run needed to be improved, and they felt Harris had all the traits they desired. Here is my scouting report on the new workhorse running back:
Strengths:
- Versatility is his best attribute; can run, block, catch at a high level
- Big, powerful 6’1 3/8”, 232-pound frame is put to good use
- A true ‘bell cow’ that can tote the rock 25-30 times per game without dropping efficiency
- Incredible arm length (33 3/’8”), wingspan (81”), and hand size (10 1/4”) offer a massive catch radius as a receiver
- Very nuanced his route running as a receiver with a sizable route tree
- Natural football player with an incredible feel for the game
- Terrific shiftiness to make defenders miss for a player his size
- Extremely productive college career – topped off by a terrific senior season that included 1,891 scrimmage yards and 30 total touchdowns
Najee Harris is not your typical running back, as 6’1”, 230-plus pound running backs don’t come around every day that is as quick-twitched and shifty as he is. What makes him such a special running back is his rare blend of elite size and unmatched versatility to excel at nearly every facet of the game.
Harris is a player who can be left on the field every down and, thanks to his terrific receiving and blocking ability, teams will never really know what to expect on any given play. He’s as natural as they come at the running back position, and touches do not need to be forced or fabricated.
Weaknesses:
- Lacks true top-end speed; explosive play rate was only half that of a player like Travis Etienne
- Can get to the second level, but will likely struggle to go the distance in the open field
- Was aided by a terrific Alabama offensive line full of future NFL players
- Some of the decision-making was done for him with truck-sized holes to run through
- No athletic testing numbers at his Pro Day; chose not to participate in athletic testing
- Suffered ankle injury late in the 2020 season
- Already 23 years old; could have a shortened NFL career
- A notable amount of tread may be off the tires with 718 touches in the SEC
Though he’s incredibly well-rounded in terms of his running, blocking, and receiving ability, Najee Harris has one glaring hole when I put on his tape: a lack of true top-end speed. Much like Le’Veon Bell, getting to the second level will not be an issue for Najee, but going the distance won’t be easy to do against NFL athletes, as he registered a very pedestrian explosive play rate in college (runs of 20 or more yards).
In addition, Harris is much older than players the Steelers typically target in the first round. Already 23, he’s the oldest first-round pick since Jarvis Jones in 2013. Prior to that, Kendall Simmons was the last 23-year-old drafted in the first round back in 2002. Najee also had a huge college workload, and it’s possible that he could start to wear down early in his NFL career – much like Bell.
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.