The Pittsburgh Steelers made a very savvy organizational decision by deciding to decline the fifth-year option for running back Najee Harris. It was the correct decision for them to make. Harris simply wasn’t putting up top of the market running back production before Jaylen Warren came along. With Warren out playing Harris the past two seasons, and mostly supplanting him as the passing down back, the cost was outweighed by the benefit.

What led to this moment?

The Steelers were desperate to improve their running game after the conclusion of the 2020 season, and with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the back nine of his career, the team brass decided to start with a running back to boost the rushing attack. Unfortunately, that was a flawed way of thinking, usually when building a ground game teams usually start with the trenches beginning with the offensive line. The Steelers though decided to go the opposite route beginning inside out, electing to begin with the running back first. That’s a bold strategy let’s see if it pays off for them.

They elected to draft Alabama running back Najee Harris with their first-round selection number 24, the very next selection at number 25 saw the Jacksonville Jaguars select Clemson running back Travis Etienne. Now there are obvious differences between the two, Harris being the much heavier 232 lbs and a bit taller being 6’1 the two vs Etienne who is closer to Warren a bit lighter at 215 lbs and standing at 5’10. The Steelers likely passed on Etienne because he didn’t fit the size profile they started to drift towards beginning with Rashard Mendenhall, then Le’Veon Bell, James Conner, and now Harris. Harris being the bigger more traditional bell cow style running back under head coach Mike Tomlin, instead of Etienne the smaller but shifter style running back.

That’s fine as far as a preference, but rules are made to be broken so while preferences are ok that shouldn’t stop an organization from choosing a talented player who’s not quite what they’re looking for. Instead attempting to force the issue going with a player who may fit your profile but doesn’t necessarily raise the bar.

Harris versus Etienne

Harris has an extremely physical style, he’s not who a smaller defensive back wants to see in the open when he’s got a full head of steam going. He doesn’t have trouble being used as a receiving option out of the backfield, or as a check-down option. Harris usually falls forward getting those tough yards. Harris is almost always available, he hasn’t had that major leg injury as Etienne has had. Harris is at his personal best when he’s going straight ahead, and the offensive line is getting a good push up front off the snap of the ball.

Though there are too many times though where he’ll try to get too cute trying to stretch the defense laterally, and he doesn’t have the speed or elusiveness to beat quicker defenders to the edges. He’s not a fit when the offense is trying to play with a quick tempo, or falls behind on the scoreboard and needs to play hurry up. For his size he doesn’t always block well which is a bit confusing. His vision as far as following the blocks of his offensive line is frankly bad, he’ll bypass an open hole for a closing one because he doesn’t wait. Harris hasn’t consistently shown a determination when running the ball, he dances too much behind the line of scrimmage. Dropping a few pounds might help him improve his speed a bit.

Etienne has a much more explosive first step when he takes the handoff or gets the pitch from the quarterback. Though both he and Harris were clocked at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash at their respective pro days. Etienne has more lateral elusive ability than Harris does and can beat defenders to the edge. He’s determined after the handoff exploding through the available holes made by his lineman. He can be lined up out wide as a receiver and willing to take on defenders as a blocker when they are rushing the quarterback. When comparing the two backs Etienne certainly has the edge in yards per carry, as well as yards per reception.

But, he’s shown that at best he may be the leader of a committee at running back. Also, he’s been bitten by the injury bug early in his young career. Though the Jaguars picked up his fifth year option where the Steelers declined Harris’s option. Which again makes sense.

The better plan for the first round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Steelers had a need at center as well as at guard. Now Zach Frazier the Steelers 2024 second round selection may turn out to be the teams answer finally after Maurkice Pouncey retired. But, Harris’s college teammate Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson sure would have looked good in the black and gold. They decided though to bypass one of the top centers in what was a shallow class, for a running back in the first-round when they had other glaring needs. That’s just bad process to make that decision, unless the player is a generational talent at the running back position, with other needs especially glaring ones should be addressed first.

They went into the 2021 season with an undersized, inexperienced, rookie center in Illinois guard Kendrick Green. The organization then served to double down by not having a quality alternatives a backup center when Green predictably flopped. At the guard position they went with a replaceable journeyman in Trai Turner, terrible. The Steelers seem to go by the mantra of we don’t rebuild we reload, which is fine but, you need to address needs when the issues are obvious. They made three bad decisions during the 2021 off-season and they have paid dearly for them.

Najee Harris Steelers career

Well, he’s had three straight 1,000-yard seasons, terrific let’s throw a parade. If you look at his numerical statistics has averaged a mere 64.09 yards rushing per game across fifty-one career games. The best season that he has had as a lead runner surprisingly was his rookie season. Then the Steelers went and found an undrafted gem after the 2022 NFL Draft in Oklahoma State running back Jaylen Warren. Harris is statistically being outplayed by a former undrafted free agent, and Harris was a first-round draft selection. That’s inexcusable and not meant to discount Warren at all.

Warren is a powerful, compact, and explosive runner. He’s reminiscent of a bowling ball but with limbs, and is an irritating blocker for defenders. He’s virtually supplanted Harris as the Steelers third down back. The team invested a first-round pick and far more guaranteed money in Harris. But when they need a conversion or a big play, its been Warren for them and not Harris. Harris does some really good things, being an early down physical presence for the Steelers, he’s a great team leader, an even better person and doesn’t turn the football over. But with Warren playing his way into a 50/50 split with Harris and at too many times looking like he’s the better runner, giving Harris a guaranteed option of $6,750,000 wouldn’t be a smart business decision it’s not personal it’s simply business.