Najee Harris has experienced one of the weirdest four years you could have with a team. Drafted in the first round to fix the Steelers rushing attack in 2021, the improvements never really materialized. At first, it was the lack of an investment in the offensive line that looked like the issue, but it soon became apparent that Harris wasn’t the dynamic runner he was hyped up to be.
While he was a load to bring down at the second level, he rarely created on his own like the elite backs in the NFL do. He could handle a huge workload, and he stayed surprisingly healthy during his Steelers tenure, but he was never efficient. He couldn’t consistently hit big runs to counteract his small gains, and he also wasn’t a consistent 4-8-yard carry machine like we had in Le’Veon Bell.
The team appeared to wise up to these issues and rejected his fifth-year option last summer, making him a free agent in 2025. Considering they weren’t willing to pay him on a cheaper one-year deal, I struggle to see the reasoning that the team would extend him following another inefficient year. He seems poised for free agency.
I do expect him to have a market though. We saw some top-level teams invest in big running backs, and it paid off with some instant success. I personally think a big deal for Harriss would be a mistake, but the NFL is a copycat league, and I expect Harris to be viewed as the missing piece for some teams. Here are the four teams that could wind up signing Harris.
LA Chargers
Jim Harbaugh loves to run the ball, and for a while, it looked like they would be a force to be reckoned with because of their backs. Gus Edwards was getting the tough yards while J.K. Dobbins was playing at an electric level. Injuries and regression impacted both players down the stretch though, and there is little guarantee that either will be back in Los Angeles next year.
If Harbaugh wants a more dependable, albeit less explosive than Dobbins, option in the backfield, Harris could be his guy. For what it's worth, Harris can handle 20 touches a game easily and doesn’t have the history of breaking down like Dobbins does. They had a surprisingly efficient passing game because of their potent ground game, and Harris could figure into a rotation there.
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Miami Dolphins
A sleeper team, I could see a realistic union between both sides. While Miami’s offense doesn’t rely on the run, Tua Tagovailoa’s recent health scares as well as the seemingly impending divorce with Tyreek Hill could change things. They have an explosive runner in De’Von Achane, but he has struggled with injuries and does more with less.
Adding Harris would give them a dependable workhorse that can carry a big load at any given time. Add in the fact that Miami was heavily rumored to be interested in him pre-draft and the fit makes sense. They can afford a slightly elevated contract for Harris while the rest of their backfield remains cheap.
Las Vegas Raiders
This seems like such a Las Vegas thing to do. Despite having needs almost everywhere, they turn around and invest significant resources in a player that isn’t worth it. With a likely rookie quarterback in the plans though, getting a capable running back to take some of the pressure off is important.
The hope would be for Harris to continue serving as a bellcow back and carry the run game as he has in Pittsburgh. The Raiders tend to make poor choices like this, and I can already see this deal proving to be a disaster. Harris needs a great line to succeed, and the Raiders don’t have that. If they are dead set on adding a running back though, he could be their best bet.
Dallas Cowboys
Another headline that writes itself, the Cowboys failed to properly address their running back room last offseason. They saw some highs and lows with Rico Dowdle and tried to get something out of Ezekiel Elliott. They seem poised to make some moves at the position this offseason, and Harris would fit that bill.
He can come in and serve as the lead back for this offense while Dowdle can settle in as the change of pace back. That tandem could work and revitalize this putrid rushing offense. The Cowboys will be looking for some splash after a string of disappointing seasons. Harris to Dallas makes as much sense as any move this offseason.