Former NFL scout shares his brutally honest opinion on why the Steelers should let Pro Bowl weapon walk in 2025 NFL free agency
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big decision to make with RB Najee Harris. An impending free agent, it seems like the two could be headed for a split, and have been since around this time last year when they declined his fifth-year option. And for former NFL scout turned media member, Daniel Jeremiah…he's not opposed […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big decision to make with RB Najee Harris.
An impending free agent, it seems like the two could be headed for a split, and have been since around this time last year when they declined his fifth-year option.
And for former NFL scout turned media member, Daniel Jeremiah…he's not opposed to finding someone faster…
Najee Harris has no juice?
"They [Steelers] just need a major infusion of team speed on 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.”
The statement was apart of a larger, and perhaps true statement regarding the overall state of the Steelers offense and really, the entire team. A franchise built on brawn and physicality, Jeremiah thinks it's time for the Steelers to change up their approach…
“They look like a dead-legged team,” Jeremiah added. “They look tired and exhausted, which to me is reason to at least consider studying practices in terms of how aggressive you want to go in training camp.”
Jeremiah makes an excellent overall point, but undoubtedly is compelling when it comes to Najee. While it shouldn't be understated that he's the first back since Adrian Peterson to start the first four years of his career with 1000+ rushing yards and 5 or more TDs in a season, Najee had fallen out of favor by the end of 2024.
Mike Tomlin repeatedly turned to Jaylen Warren more down the stretch and when asked about it, he would say it was due to Warren "having the hot hand," In reality however, it was because his bell cow, and the most durable player on the team wasn't as explosive at the end of the season compared to the beginning.
So there's no doubt that Jeremiah is right about his analysis of the offense, even if Najee was the one catching a stray.
I still expect him to receive a healthy payday come March, whether it's in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
