The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten three 1,000-yard seasons from running back Najee Harris since selecting him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. The bruising Alabama runner has drawn plenty of praise from Head Coach Mike Tomlin for his ability to deliver consistent performances. The value of the running back position has been a big question with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins finding effective players in later rounds of the draft instead of using high picks or paying out big-time cheques in free agency. Former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley secured a pay day in 2024 free agency and hopes that Harris can be part of the next generation to get paid.
Barkley played under an adjusted franchise tag that netted him $10.1 million in the 2023 season. The two sides couldn’t come to a long-term deal and the team opted against using the tag on the two-time Pro Bowl running back, letting him hit the open market in 2024.
Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed at signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. The new contract has a maximum average-per-year salary of $15.833 million, which would be the second highest for a running back in NFL history.
Barkley recently joined the New Height Podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce to chat about his new deal and how he hopes it sets a new trend to get running backs paid fairly. Barkley expressed frustration about playing on the franchise in 2023 but said he had numerous offers from teams willing to try to meet his price point in free agency. Now, he hopes that the next generation of guys will be able to secure a bag like he did.
“I feel like where I got, now Bijan [Robinson], Jamyr [Gibbs], Najee [Harris], y’all boys, go beat me,” he said. “I’m a competitor. I’m trying to go out this year, especially with the situation I’m in now, I’m trying to be the best running back. No questions about it. But let’s push each other. Let’s all drive it.”
Steelers fans remember 2018 when star running back Le’Veon Bell decided to sit out the season instead of playing under the franchise tag. After sitting out the year, Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million free-agent deal with the New York Jets that didn’t have the effect of changing the market like he had hoped.
It also didn’t help that Bell struggled mightily with the Jets, and after bouncing around from the Jets to the Chiefs to the Baltimore Ravens and then Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was out of the league at the end of the 2021 season.
Barkley has a chance to prove that running backs like him, who can be weapons in the running and passing games, deserve to be paid relative to the value they provide on game days.
Steelers Have Tough Future Decisions At Running Back
Pittsburgh has some important decisions regarding their running back position. First, they have until May 2nd to decide whether to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option, which would cost them just under $6.8 million for the 2024 season as per Over The Cap.
The Athletic‘s Stelers insider, Mark Kaboly, believes it would be wise to sign Harris’ option, but he is unsure about a long-term extension. The emergence of undrafted backup Jaylen Warren could have a significant impact on the team’s decision to keep Harris around for a longer period.
Warren had an impressive rookie season in 2022, providing a valuable option to spell Harris when the bruising back needed rest. He amassed 379 yards on 77 carries and added 214 receiving yards. In the 2023 season, he split time more equally and delivered even better results, with 784 rushing yards on 149 carries and 370 receiving yards on 61 receptions.
After the 2024 season, Warren will become a restricted free agent, and the Steelers’ decision-makers, led by Tomlin and Omar Khan, will have to decide whether to invest heavily in Harris and determine what Warren’s next contract will look like.
