The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the more intriguing running back rooms in the NFL. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle figure to be a two-headed monster this year, while some combination of Kaleb Johnson/Eli Heidenrich/Travis Homer/the field will serve as a reserve.
Notably absent from the list is former Steeler first-round pick Najee Harris.
In fact, Harris has no home in the NFL right now. He headed west after his rookie contract expired to the Chargers, where he figured to serve as a complement to Omarion Hampton. His three-game stint was forgettable, and then he tore his Achilles and was out for the year.
It isn’t a shock that Harris is still unsigned, given his recovery status. However, it seems like every major outlet reporting on the best available free agents fails to mention Harris as an option.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got the last laugh with Najee Harris
A lot of fans and analysts were obsessed with Harris when he joined the Steelers. His constant stream of 1,000-yard rushing seasons cemented him as a star.
However, issues arose with his efficiency. Harris was a classic plugger. A guy who produced gaudy numbers only because he was given constant carries.
His time in Los Angeles was reminiscent of that before his injury. Now, he may not even play this season, and at his age, his career could be on the brink of ending.
Take Yahoo Sports, for example. They created a hearty list of available free agents still looking for a home. This list included washed-up names like Nick Chubb and Jonnu Smith. Tyreek Hill was also included, who is in a similar spot as Harris, given his injury.
It seems like the league as a whole has forgotten about this former “star”, and unless he makes some noise this year, it could be the end of the line for Harris.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have one of the more underrated backs in Warren at the helm. He is explosive, physical, and efficient with the ball in his hands. New addition Dowdle is a violent runner between the tackles. The pair should be a hard one for defenses to stop.
Losing Harris was an addition by subtraction. The running back room was the most efficient it had been in years last year. With Harris on the outs, it is just another reminder that the Steelers were right in moving on from him last year.
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