The Steelers have a long list of pending free agents, and while some with be targets to bring back, it seems like there will be quite a few notable names that will walk. With free agency just around the corner, I wanted to go player by player and see what their value could be on the open market as well as what it would cost for Pittsburgh to keep them.
Najee Harris is up on the docket, and he seems like a player who is as good as gone. The hope was that Harris would reinvent this Steelers run game, and while he was a consistent player, he never hit the highs you would hope from a first-round pick.
Pittsburgh decided to not pick up his fifth-year option which would have amounted to roughly $7 million for the year. He seems upset and the team appears to realize what his value actually is. That said, if the team wants to keep him around, they will need to strike up a strong offer.
Steelers market value for Najee Harris
- Over the Cap Value: $7.082 million per year
- Spotrac Value: $9.2 million per year
Similar contracts: Tony Pollard ($7.25 million); D’Andre Swift ($8 million); Rhamondre Stevenson ($9 million)
Once again, despite my own opinions on the matter, I don’t think Over the Cap is realistically giving a new value to Harris. The running back market has seen a small resurgence recently, and I can’t see him getting a yearly cost that low.
While I listed three deals that make sense given their talent level, I think the most critical deal is Rhamondre Stevenson. He is a similar player in style, but he had his worst season following his new deal. While I think his value lies in the 7-8 million dollar range, Stevenson’s contract could prove to be his floor.
READ MORE: 4 teams that could steal Najee Harris away in free agency
It also seems like Harris is more keen on finding a new home this year. He seemed distant after his option was declined, and considering the backlash he faces from the fanbase, a fresh start is likely on his radar for him.
Steelers deal needed for Najee Harris: 3-year, 30 million dollar deal (10 APY), 12 million signing bonus, 17 million total guaranteed
Factoring in my opinion that Harris wants out, the team would need to offer a player-friendly deal to secure him. This deal is just that. He misses out on the top five in terms of annual salary, but he gets a lot of money upfront on this deal.
In addition to his signing bonus, he also gets half of his second-year salary guaranteed. This essentially locks his roster spot up for the next two seasons, as it would cost more to cut him than you actually save.
Considering how easy it is to find backs and Harris’s inefficiencies, this is a deal not worth doing.
If Pittsburgh is desperate though, this seems like a realistic middle ground. It’s an overpay, but for a player who may want a fresh start, it could be the cost of doing business. Considering the Steelers choice to decline his option last year, it is more than likely that these two part ways this offseason instead.
Prediction: Harris and the Steelers go in a different direction this offseason