The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprise decision on Thursday, opting not to exercise the fifth-year option on running back Najee Harris. This means that the 24th overall pick in the 2021 draft will become a free agent after the upcoming season. Multiple reports have confirmed this decision, which comes after Harris had been a consistent performer for the team throughout his three seasons with them.
Harris has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards each year and scored 28 touchdowns while playing in every game. However, this was not enough to secure his salary for the 2025 season. One potential factor in this decision could be the emergence of Jaylen Warren as a more explosive option in the backfield last season. The Steelers may also want to wait and assess how the upcoming 2024 season unfolds before committing to Harris beyond the current one.
The Steelers’ move is significant as it marks a major shift in their strategy for their future roster. If they had picked up Harris’ fifth-year option, he would have been guaranteed $6.79 million for the 2025 season. However, by choosing not to exercise it, they are essentially passing up on locking him into long-term contract terms and giving themselves more flexibility in terms of building their roster moving forward.
In conclusion, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision not to exercise Najee Harris’ fifth-year option is a surprising move that could signal a shift in their approach to roster building moving forward. It remains to be seen what impact this decision will have on their long-term plans and whether it will lead them down a new path towards success or setbacks in years to come.
Throughout his three seasons with the Steelers, Najee Harris has been a consistent performer and has shown promise as one of their key players. However, with his five-year option now expired, he will need to renegotiate his contract if he wants to continue playing for the team beyond next season.
The emergence of Jaylen Warren as an explosive option last season could have played a role in this decision. Additionally, waiting until after next year’s draft could allow them to assess how well Warren performs and whether he can replace Harris as their primary running back.
Overall, this decision highlights just how important contract decisions can be for teams when it comes to building out their long-term roster plans. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on Harris’ future with the team and whether he will ultimately decide to renegotiate his contract or look elsewhere for opportunities.