Is Najee Harris better off with the Steelers declining his fifth-year option?
Free agency is an exciting time for a young NFL player—assuming that he has a robust market awaiting him. For first-round picks whose teams opt not to exercise their fifth-year option, that’s not a foregone conclusion. This might be the case, especially for positions like running back, where the salary threshold is lower. In other words, it says a little more if a team won’t commit to paying you under $7 million, in this case, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Najee Harris.
The Steelers aren’t going to get into the weeds about why they decided not to exercise Najee Harris’ option. But regardless of their reasoning, is he better off, anyway? With the improvements along the offensive line and at offensive coordinator, he is primed for his best season.
If he plays his cards right, Harris should hit the open market at the peak of his value. He’ll be just turning 27 years old at that point and should have another 1,000-yard season on his resume. And perhaps he’ll have some breakaway runs thanks to actual second-level blocking for a change.
One thing with Harris is, in fact, his age. He came into the league as an older rookie, and running backs have a short shelf life. Frankly, 27 for a running back looks a lot better than 28 when you’re looking to sign one.
The Steelers may have done Harris a favor—unintentionally—by declining his option. He may not have $6.7 million guaranteed coming to him, but he’s positioned to earn more than that. The running back market this past offseason sprung to life a bit, and he could be the top name on the market in 2025.
The Steelers’ 2023 season has been put out of its misery, ending as so many have before in recent years: a disappointing, blowout playoff loss. The only change-up lately is when they miss the playoffs altogether. But with the Buffalo Bills stamping them out in the Wild Card Round, they have another long offseason ahead.
The biggest question hanging over the team is the quarterback question. Does Russell Wilson make them a Super Bowl-caliber team, or are they wasting a year? Will he play just one season in Pittsburgh before moving on, or the Steelers moving on from him? How will the team address the depth chart?
The Steelers are past free agency and the draft and their roster for the 2024 season is coming into focus. They made numerous moves through signings and trade—and release. More than usual, they seemed comfortable creating holes, confident they can fill them. Now that we have so many pieces of the puzzle, however, we merely have a new set of questions to ask.
