ESPN news: Mike Tomlin in contention with Steelers over choice to cut Najee Harris.
Running back Najee Harris is one of the eight players that have at least 4,100 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns over the previous three seasons since joining the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
However, the Steelers turned down their option for the 2025 season on Harris’ four-year rookie contract this offseason, when they had the chance to extend Harris’ contract simply by stating their desire to do so.
Following the Steelers’ first session of Phase 3 of their offseason program on Tuesday, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin was questioned about whether the team felt the same they did about the former All-American from Alabama.
Tomlin stated, “It could reflect a lot of things, but those waters probably have some depth.” Positional issues and similar issues can occasionally be the cause. This decision, like all of ours, has a business component. Thus, it has layers to it. I’m not going to attempt to sum it up simply. That is most likely not appropriate.
Harris was not one of the Pittsburgh players who spoke with media following practice on Tuesday.
A four-year contract with a fifth-season team option is signed by each first-round draft selection. However, that option must to be used prior to the player’s fourth season. The cutoff time to do so for the 2021 first-rounders was 3 p.m. May 2, CDT.
The fifth-year option would have guaranteed Harris a salary of $6.79 million for the 2025 campaign, but it would have tied Harris to Pittsburgh for an additional season. This represents the mean of running back wages from the third to the twentieth highest for the previous five seasons.
In his first three seasons, Harris became the 18th player in NFL history to carry for 1,000 yards in each of those seasons. Since being selected, he has started every Pittsburgh game.
Throughout his NFL career, Harris has amassed 834 running attempts for 3,269 yards and 22 touchdowns, as well as 144 receptions for 866 yards and six touchdowns.
In just three seasons, Harris has amassed more rushing yards and receptions than any other player in NFL history. The other two are former Auburn star William Andrews and Pro Football Hall of Fame members Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Phase 3 sessions, also known as OTAs (Organized Team Activities), give NFL teams the opportunity to increase the amount of on-field work they do during the offseason by adding 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills that match the offense and defense. Group drills can now move beyond a walkthrough pace, although contact is still prohibited.
A two-time 1,000-yard runner for Alabama, Harris was named a unanimous All-American, took home the Doak Walker Award as the finest back in the country, and for the Crimson Tide’s 2020 undefeated CFP national championship squad, he set an SEC single-season TD record.
