NFL player comparisons for Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris

Low-end NFL comparison: T.J. Yeldon

Obviously, this would be utterly disappointing if Najee Harris only turned out to be T.J. Yeldon in the NFL. Though Harris was a better prospect coming out of college, it’s not hard to draw a lot of similarities between the two players.

Yeldon was the 36th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015. Like Harris, Yeldon was thoroughly productive during his time at Alabama – racking up 3,322 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns in just three seasons. As a prospect, many thought he could be one of the best running backs in the league with his size and do-it-all profile… He was not.

At 6’1” and 226 pounds, Yeldon possesses a similar frame as Najee Harris. He also proved to be a quality receiver – catching at least 50 passes twice during his first four seasons. Unfortunately, nagging injuries derailed Yeldon’s career early. Though his first 6 seasons, Yeldon has played in a combined 60 games and has not finished a season healthy. This is despite never missing a game at Alabama.

Now entering his seventh NFL season, the veteran running back now sits in free agency after playing his last two seasons in Buffalo. Despite his former high draft status, Yeldon is a complete afterthought. Clearly, much would have to go wrong for Najee Harris to have a Yeldon-like career path, but they were both similar players at Alabama. I think Harris only reaches this level of low if he is continually injured in the NFL.