NFL Rumors: Najee Harris' 5th-Year Contract Option Declined by Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will not pick up running back Najee Harris' fifth-year option for the 2025 season, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

The option would have kept Harris with the team at a cap hit of $6.79 million, per Spotrac.

Harris will now enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 after recording 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first three seasons.

Since he was selected with the No. 24 pick of the 2021 NFL draft, Harris has started 51 straight regular-season games for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh is "not ruling out" the possibility of extending Harris' contract through 2025 on a new deal, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

According to Pryor, the Steelers are hoping to see how Harris fits in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's system before making the decision.

Harris is set to receive a base salary of $2.4 million in 2024 and will cost the Steelers $4.2 million against the cap.

The Steelers' decision not to pick up Harris' option currently leaves the team without any starting running back signed past this upcoming season.

Backup Jaylen Warren, who is signed on for the 2024 season at a cap hit of just under $1 million, is currently set to become a restricted free agent in 2025.

There is the possibility the Steelers already have their running backs of the future on the roster, however.

Warren and Harris combined for a total of 1,819 rushing yards last season and could potentially become an even more productive tandem under Smith.

Smith was working with the Tennessee Titans in Derrick Henry's 2020 Offensive Player of the Year campaign, during which Henry led the NFL with more than 2,000 rushing yards.

The Steelers could now be hoping to see a similar offensive increase from Warren and Harris as Pittsburgh develops its run game under Smith.

If Harris and Smith are a good match, there is a chance he and the Steelers could still agree to a deal that would keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2025 season.