This offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers had the ability to extend running back Najee Harris’ contract until 2025. However, the NFL team has declined, allowing the former Alabama All-American to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
Each first-round draft pick signs a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth season. However, that option must be exercised before the player’s fourth season. The deadline for submitting 2021 first-round draft picks was 3 p.m. CDT Thursday.
Pittsburgh did not make an announcement about Harris’ option by the deadline, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and ESPN reported that the Steelers had refused it.
Harris, the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, signed a four-year, $13.047 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While committing Harris to Pittsburgh for an extra season, the fifth-year option would have guaranteed Harris a $6.79 million salary for the 2025 season. That is the average of the third- to twentieth-highest wages for running backs during the previous five seasons.
Eight running backs have already inked contracts worth more than that for the 2025 season. Harris will earn $2.439 million in 2024, ranking 29th among running backs this season.
Fifth-year options come in four designations:
· Players with at least two Pro Bowl selections in their first three seasons.
· Players picked for one Pro Bowl on the original ballot.
· Non-Pro Bowl players that have played at least 75% of offensive or defensive snaps in two seasons or 50% of overall snaps in three seasons.
· Players who have not met Pro Bowl or playing-time standards.
Harris went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021, however he was a substitute player rather than an initial pick, so his option money is based on playing time.
Harris became the 18th player in NFL history to carry for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons.
Throughout his NFL career, Harris had 834 rush attempts for 3,269 yards and 22 touchdowns, as well as 144 receptions for 866 yards and six scores.
Only three other players in NFL history have had as many rushing yards and receptions as Harris in their first three seasons: Pro Football Hall of Fame members Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson, and former Auburn star William Andrews.
Harris, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher for Alabama, received unanimous All-American honors, won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s finest running back, and established an SEC single-season touchdown record for the Crimson Tide’s unbeaten CFP national championship squad in 2020.
