When the Pittsburgh Steelers opted to let the fifth-year option deadline pass on Najee Harris back in May, it caught many fans off guard. Harris was coming off his third-straight 1,000-yard rushing season and primed for a big year with an offensive coordinator not named Matt Canada at the helm.
All the while, Jaylen Warren, an undrafted free agent in 2022, was coming off a breakout season. The explosive running back for 5.3 yards per carry in 2023 while chipping in 61 receptions on 74 targets.
But there was a problem brewing we could see a mile away.
The Steelers elected to march headfirst into the 2024 season with no running back outside of a 33-year-old Cordarrelle Patterson signed for the 2025 season. This creates a dilemma... and one with no clear-cut right answer.
Steelers' backfield could look completely different in 2024
Pittsburgh proved to be one of the best teams at running the football during the 2024 season, but their backfield could be getting a makeover during the offseason. With a change in philosophy in the front office with Omar Khan and Andy Weidl running the show, the Steelers may not be willing to spend a sizeable chunk of their projected salary cap space to keep their running backs intact.
Because of his former draft status and excellent raw production, Harris could earn a big contract in free agency. He saved his best season for 2024 in a contract year, and retaining the former Pro Bowl back feels like a stretch — especially after Pittsburgh passed on the fifth-year option.
Meanwhile, Warren has been the more efficient runner over the past three seasons, but the smaller RB doesn't possess the same durability Najee displayed and can't be trusted in a feature role due to his injury history. Still, Warren can expect to earn a nice payday if he hits the open market.
So what's the answer for the Steelers in the backfield next season?
What they will ultimately decide is as good as anyone's guess. The backfield in 2025 could consist of Harris, Patterson, and a rookie. It could be Warren, Patterson, and a rookie. It could even be a combination of three players who aren't currently on the roster.
Considering the circumstances, a mid-round draft choice could be the most likely option. The Steelers are about to have a gaping hole at the position, and instead of signing a running back with tread already off the tires to a lucrative contract, they could elect to go the draft-and-replace route.
While spending first-round capital on a running back often proves to be a poor decision, the Steelers could spend Day 2 draft capital on a workhorse back who could fill the void left by Harris and Warren. The 2025 NFL Draft is expected to have outstanding talent and depth at the RB position, and this would be the year to grab a player on Day 2 who the Steelers could plug and play for the next four seasons.
As unfortunate as it is, running backs are a replaceable position in the NFL. In most cases, you can throw quality veterans on the free agent pile and replace their production and efficiency with a much cheaper player.
Like all positions, there are exceptions to this. Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley proved to be phenomenal free-agent investments by the Ravens and Eagles, respectively. But Harris and Warren aren't in this tier of RB.
We don't know what the Steelers will ultimately decide at the future of the running back position in Pittsburgh. Whatever they choose, this will be an incredibly difficult decision to make, and fans need to prepare as if we will see a completely different backfield in 2025.