Running back Najee Harris, the No. 24 overall pick in 2021, and recently acquired quarterback Justin Fields both have fifth-year option decisions to make for the Steelers on Thursday.
It came as no surprise when Pittsburgh decided not to activate Fields’ fifth-year option, which was valued at $25.6 million. Nevertheless, it was unexpected that the team also rejected Harris’ option for a fifth season, as reported by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Here’s why that’s both logical and not.
Quality against quantity
Harris made team history last season when he scored 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first three seasons. Some, meanwhile, contend that his stats are more the result of quantity than quality.
Harris is one of only three players with multiple carries since his rookie season in 2021 and the only player in the NFL with at least 250 carries in each of the previous three seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
In his first three years of the NFL, the 26-year-old has also averaged less than four yards per rush (3.9). The Steelers might believe that they can get better production for less money.
Warren Jaylen
One potential source of such less expensive productivity could be Warren, a free agent in 2022 who was not selected.
Over the last two years, Warren has rushed for 1,163 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns, accomplishing significantly more with less opportunities. Additionally, he has shown himself to be a dependable receiver, hauling in 89 catches for 584 yards in that time.
inexpensive fifth-year choice
If Harris’ fifth-year option had been worth a lot of money, declining it might have made sense, but it was only about $6.79 million.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers are “still open to doing business” with Harris, but they wanted to wait to commit long-term because they wanted to see how he and Warren fit into new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s playbook.
rebuilt offensive line
But if Harris reaches new heights in 2024, Pittsburgh might regret not making that long-term commitment to him. That also appears highly plausible, following the team’s reconstructed offensive line.
By selecting offensive lineman Troy Fautanu in the first round (at pick No. 20) and center Zach Frazier in the second round (at pick No. 51), the Steelers completed their offensive line.
In the long run, Pittsburgh will lose a lot more money if Harris runs the strong 2024 campaign that many predict he will.