Thursday marked the deadline for teams to make decisions about picking up the fifth-year options on contracts for 2021 first-round picks. While most teams had already made their decisions known in the days leading up to the deadline, the Pittsburgh Steelers had not yet announced their call on running back Najee Harris as Thursday afternoon approached.
Multiple reports now confirm that the Steelers have chosen not to exercise their option on Harris. This means that the 24th overall pick in the 2021 draft will be on track to become a free agent after the upcoming season. If the Steelers had picked up the option, Harris would have been guaranteed a salary of $6.79 million for the 2022 season.
Despite Harris rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons with Pittsburgh and scoring 28 touchdowns while playing in every game, the team ultimately decided not to commit to guaranteeing his salary for the 2025 season. They likely want to see how the 2024 season plays out before making a long-term commitment to the talented running back.
One factor that may have influenced the decision is the emergence of Jaylen Warren, who was more explosive than Harris last season. The Steelers believe they have enough talent at the position and opted not to lock themselves into Harris for the 2025 season before assessing his performance in the upcoming year.