Najee Harris delivered a productive four-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, consistently serving as a key contributor to the offense. The former first-round pick surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four seasons with the franchise and totaled 28 touchdowns, solidifying his reputation with the Pennsylvania team in the NFL.
Nevertheless, for experts, fans, and even his former teammates, this wasn’t enough to keep him on the team, causing a lack of confidence in the 27-year-old player. The team hasn’t had good seasons in recent years, and some point out that it is the fault of Harris. However, not all the responsibility should be attributed to him and his performance.
For this reason, is that Najee signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in March, but his future is still uncertain for the upcoming season.
Steelers’ problems go beyond Najee Harris’ production
Chris Carter, host of the well-known podcast ‘Locked on Steelers,’ weighed in on the root of Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles last season. During the episode, Carter pointed to the underwhelming performance of the offensive line as a key factor, defending Najee Harris, arguing that the blame placed on him was not fair.
“The Steelers’ offensive line, for much of his time there, was just so bad. And people need to understand when it comes to vision, a lot of times when you think ‘oh this hole’s open over here,’ it’s not the designed hole.” He said during the Podcast.
With his future in Pittsburgh uncertain, Harris opted to seek a fresh start, signing a one-year, $9.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, in an unexpected twist, a new opportunity emerged in June, presenting Harris with the chance to potentially join another franchise.
Najee Harris’ Future: Is a New Team in Sight
It came as a surprise when Bleacher Report listed Najee Harris among potential trade candidates. NFL analyst Kristopher Knox, writing for Bleacher Report, weighed in on Harris’ inclusion and the likelihood of him being moved. This can be for two main reasons: the new rookies in the L.A. team and the vision for the team.
“Harris is on a one-year deal and may not be viewed as a long-term piece for L.A.,” Knox explained when asked about Harris’ inclusion on the trade list. He added,” The Chargers also drafted Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick in April, and the North Carolina product might walk into an every-down role. Teams in need of running back help would at least be wise to call about Harris’ availability.”
The journalist speculated about the next destination of Najee in the NFL, suggesting that one of the main interested teams can be the Dallas Cowboys. “Dallas should consider adding Harris as a high-floor option in its backfield.” He commented. The Texas team has already asked for the running back when he went out of the Steelers, and now, with the leadership of the new HC, Brian Schottenheimer, he could end up in the “America’s Team”
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