Najee Harris isn’t just a high draft choice from Alabama. Here’s why the Steelers running back has the traits to become the best back in the league.
I’m not a big fan of running backs. Their impact in today’s game is smaller than it has ever been and I feel they get a remarkably high amount of praise that largely belongs to their offensive line and scheme.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers took Najee Harris in the first round, I was not thrilled. Even the best backs in the NFL can wear down quickly, and the organization can’t expect more than four or five very good years out of them. With already having a big college workload, Harris could potentially be on his last legs by the end of his rookie deal.
Still, regardless of my opinion on the value of the running back position, I think the Steelers got a very good player in Najee Harris. In fact, I would go so far as to say that he has the potential to be the best all-around running back in the league if the conditions are right. Here are four traits that could make Harris the NFL’s best do-it-all running back:
Workhorse ability
This term is used lightly, but regardless of your definition of a workhorse back, Najee fits the bill. At 6’2” and 232 pounds, Harris has the frame to carry the load. While size isn’t everything for running backs, typically smaller backs tend to get injured more often if asked to touch the ball too many times per game. Being big doesn’t ensure Harris that he’s not going to get injured, but the size helps.
However, perhaps the biggest requirement of a workhorse NFL running back his ability to stay on the field for all three downs and operate as a runner, blocker, and receiver all at a high level. I have no doubts that Najee Harris could do this on par with the best backs in the league, as he excelled at each aspect in college and should only continue to improve in the NFL.
Receiving ability
Najee Harris’s running ability alone would be enough to get him drafted high and carve out a significant role with an NFL team, but it’s his ability as a receiver that could make him a special player for the Steelers. Not that long ago, Pittsburgh had another big running back who was remarkably shifty for his size with loads of natural receiving ability (I’m obviously referring to Le’Veon Bell).
Though Bell has been a headcase since holding out on the team in 2018, there’s no denying his ability in the passing game for the Steelers, as he was a terrific route runner who could chew up yards after the catch and offered a safety blanket for Ben Roethlisberger. Harris could be a very similar receiver for the Steelers.
With an outrageous 81” wingspan to go with 33 1/8” arms and 10 1/4” hands, Najee has a massive catch radius to effortlessly pluck the ball out of the air. He’s grown exponentially in this department during his time at Alabama and has averaged over 10.0 yards per reception since 2019.
Najee Harris is an extremely natural football player with savvy route running and soft hands. In fact, I recently wrote about how he could have been even more valuable in the NFL as a wide receiver. This is an area I expect him to thrive in the NFL, and he has the upside to be among the best receiving backs in the game.
Durability
I touched on this a bit early (as Najee’s durability is part of what gives him workhorse traits). However, it’s so important that it deserves to be listed as a trait in itself. I’m sure you’ve heard it said that the best ability is availability.
There are exceptions to this. Troy Polamalu was one of them. Though the All-Pro safety had trouble staying on the field due to his physical playstyle, he was a cut above the rest of the players at his position and was so good when he was on the field.
When it comes to running backs, however, I would sacrifice a bit of talent for a guy you can always count on to play a full season. Again, this isn’t to say that Harris won’t suffer a few big injuries in the NFL, but if history is any indicator, he could have a lengthier NFL career than we typically come to correct.
If Harris does prove to stay healthy throughout his rookie contract, the dilemma the Steelers have won’t be whether or not they trust his health, it will be whether or not he has enough tread left on the tires to give him a new deal. Obviously, we can cross that bridge when we come to it, but Harris’s ability to stay on the field could give them something the team was desperately lacking with James Conner.
Worth ethic and competitiveness
Najee Harris knows what winning feels like – it’s embedded into the culture of Nick Saban’s team at Alabama. While I can’t say the same for some of the talented skill players we’ve had in recent years, Harris wants to continue that winning streak in the NFL.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger even joked during a media session about how long Harris stays after practice – saying that he heard running back coach Eddie Falkner say, “Hey Najee, I have to go home now.” It’s never a bad thing when your coach has to tell you to leave the practice field because you’ve been there too long.
Beginning his college career buried behind players like Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris, Najee had to work hard to carve out a role with the team and eventually become a first-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m not going to automatically assume that this competitive fire in Harris is going to go away just because he signed his rookie contract. He loves to win, and his hard work and determination to be the best is yet another trait that could help him develop into the league’s best running back.
There are always going to be running backs that are faster and even more powerful than Najee Harris, but his collection of valuable traits could make him the most well-rounded running back in the NFL if all goes well.