Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan has shown he will remain aggressive. Between free agent additions and selections in the NFL Draft, Khan has found different pieces to install into his puzzle. They also made a splash by acquiring DK Metcalf in a trade earlier this offseason. They have a strong roster that hinges on Aaron Rodgers' decision.
Khan might consider a trade between now and the regular season, but nothing will be earth-shattering. In a new article by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, he could envision the team staying active. He not only listed a former Steeler, but he believes they could conjure a reunion with the player.
Their reasoning doesn't make sense.
Najee Harris left Pittsburgh this past March after signing with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. Harris made Knox's trade block list because the Chargers selected running back Omario Hampton in the first round of the NFL Draft. That will be challenging for Harris at his new home, but won't be a pillar in a potential rallying cry between the veteran and his former employer.
Bleacher Report has to be crazy to imagine the Pittsburgh Steelers reuniting with Najee Harris
Jim Harbaugh heads into his second campaign as the Chargers' head coach. He demands a successful run game to get his offense going. Last season, Harbaugh used a committee approach, but Knox believes that mindset could be going extinct.
With the group of Hampton, Hassan Haskins, and Kimani Vidal on the roster, Harris could hit the trade block because of his value.
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"Harris would have value on the trade market. While he was never a high-end starter in Pittsburgh, he was a durable high-volume back who topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his NFL seasons."
If Los Angeles wanted Hampton to become their premier running back, it could make sense to trade Harris. It would also benefit the Chargers by keeping Harris to provide depth and an additional chess piece for their offense. He is a durable runner who has never missed a game in his pro career. If they decide to trade Harris, it makes no sense to return to Pittsburgh.
"A return to Pittsburgh could make sense, even though the Steelers added Kaleb Johnson in Round 3. If the Steelers believe they can make a run with Aaron Rodgers or another veteran QB this season, they'll need a fortified backfield," said Knox.
Adding Rodgers pushes the Steelers into "win-now" mode this season. Although they might want to win, Harris's return doesn't make sense. Pittsburgh could've re-signed him as a free agent if they wanted him back. They have Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren, and Kenneth Gainwell on the roster. They'll be upgrades over what they had on the team last season.
Knox doesn't give significant enough reasoning about why this proposed idea makes sense for the Steelers. Unless one of their top running backs suffered a long-term injury this preseason, Harris won't be returning to Pittsburgh.
It's hard to imagine the Chargers willing to trade him after they signed him a couple of months ago. It's easy to see where Knox is coming from, but it doesn't add up.
Unless Harris fails to live up to expectations in Los Angeles, it's hard to fathom his availability on the trade block that quickly.
The addition of Hampton is intriguing, but Harris is an established running back who has complemented other players before. The Steelers wouldn't be the first choice in a potential trade partner for the Chargers, but there would be a market for Harris later this preseason.