Despite speculation that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris will move on from the Steel City in 2025, one sportsbook tabbed the Steelers as the most likely landing spot for Harris at +200 odds. The Las Vegas Raiders have the second-best odds at +600, followed by the Dallas Cowboys (+600), Los Angeles Chargers (+900), Chicago Bears (+1100), Denver Broncos (+1250) and Minnesota Vikings (+1250).
The Raiders and Broncos have previously been mentioned as potential landing spots for Harris. The Chargers, Cowboys, Bears and Vikings all need running back help, as well. Harris should have several suitors, and they’ll most likely offer more money than Pittsburgh.
The 26-year-old has been a very reliable player throughout his four-year NFL career, though, rushing for at least 1,000 yards and six touchdowns every season and never missing a game. That could prove to be very valuable on the open market.
The Steelers declined Harris’ $6.79 million fifth-year option in May, so that’s the main reason why a return is unexpected. Harris is also not an ideal fit in Arthur Smith’s offense.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks it would be wise for the Steelers to move on from Harris. Harris has never been known to be a speedster, his longest career run is only 32 yards. Jeremiah thinks Harris just lacks the explosiveness that the Steelers need in Smith’s offense.
“They’re just not fast enough. Najee Harris, I know he’s a fan favorite because he’s tough, falls forward, and he’s physical,” Jeremiah said on the Shek Show with Dave Dameshek. “He’s got no juice. If you’re going to be a team reliant on the run game, you’ve got to be able to pop some explosive runs. That’s not 10-15 yards, that’s 50 or 60 yards.”
Dan Pizzuta of The 33rd Team also thinks the Steelers will part ways with Harris due to the lack of explosiveness.
“Najee Harris had 1,000 rushing yards, his fourth-straight year of doing so, but that was more because of volume than efficiency,” Pizzuta writes. “A team could hope better blocking in front of Harris could open up some more room, but he’s also not incredibly explosive, so some kind of Saquon Barkley impact is likely not on the table.”
According to Spotrac, Harris is projected to receive a three-year, $27.5 million deal on the open market. That would put the 26-year-old’s per year average at about $9.2 million, which would be the eighth highest in the NFL, behind Cardinals’ James Conner ($9.5M per year) and in front of Lions’ David Montgomery ($9.125M per year).