The running back room could look a lot different in 2025 after the Pittsburgh Steelers declined Najee Harris’ fifth-year option. The team will definitely need to restructure its room after the season with two key free agents.
Harris is scheduled to hit the open market in 2025, while Jalen Warren is a restricted free agent. Cordarrelle Patterson is under contract for the next two seasons. The Steelers have a right of first refusal with Warren, which means they will have to pay him significantly more in 2025. At this point, it seems likely that Warren will return. A contract extension is also a possibility for Harris, but the situation is quite uncertain as if he puts up impressive numbers in 2024, he could be in danger of leaving Pittsburgh.
Trade rumors have been circulating, especially for the Dallas Cowboys, as Harris could be moved after 2024. It all started with an article in which Fanside’s John Buehler recently considered this scenario and predicted a 2025 fourth-round trade from Dallas in exchange for Harris. Since then, it has spread as a rumor.
The Cowboys are a team in need of a running back, and Tony Pollard is currently employed by the Tennessee Titans. Dallas just recently signed Ezekiel Elliott, but he’s still not fully operational at this stage of his career.
However, Cowboys officials told Cowboys reporter Jane Slater that the rumors were all “clickbait.” That makes sense, considering Buehler has said he hasn’t heard anything from sources regarding a trade. He’s simply playing out a scenario that could potentially benefit the Cowboys. The Steelers also have no intention of moving Harris, and will likely keep him for the final year of his contract with the team.
Team sources tell me these Najee Harris and Cowboys reports are “clickbait” 🤷🏼♀️
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) May 6, 2024
A similar source told Mike Fisher, who is connected to the Cowboys building, that the rumors are nothing but “nonsense.” This lends credence to the fact that the trade is just gossip in a dead part of the offseason.
Harris became the first player in Steelers history to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of the first three seasons of his career. In 2023, Harris had the best season of his career in yards per carry, rushing 255 times for 1,035 yards (an average of 4.1 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. Harris rushed for 3.9 and 3.8 yards per carry in his first two seasons. In other words, Harris has become Pittsburgh’s reliable running back due to his abundance of resources and solid strength.
Harris had his most efficient season to date in 2023. Harris’ expected rushing yards, yards per carry and broken tackles per carry were all career highs. There’s plenty to show that Harris still has a chance to improve, and this should be the best offensive line he’s ever played behind.
