NFL Rumors: Najee Harris Likely to Earn $8-10M AAV in FA; Steelers Won't Match

It doesn't seem like Najee Harris will be returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.

Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reported Tuesday that the running back "will likely earn between $8-10 million on the open market, a number the Steelers are unwilling to match."

Farabaugh noted the Alabama product is expected to have "several suitors," which could drive up his price beyond what Pittsburgh is willing to offer.

His time with the AFC North team seemed limited even before the 2024 season when the Steelers declined the fifth-year option on his contract. He is now slated for free agency as a result.

It seemed like Harris would be the running back in Pittsburgh for years when he burst onto the scene with 1,200 rushing yards, 467 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2021. He made the Pro Bowl for those efforts and looked to be a star in the making.

While he still surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his next three seasons, he was unable to reach the same level of production as when he was a rookie.

There are also some fair concerns about his overall efficiency, as he has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in his career. By comparison, Jaylen Warren has averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his first three seasons.

Warren is also fresher with 346 career carries compared to Harris' 1,097 and seems to be in line to be the Steelers' No. 1 running back for the 2025 campaign.

As for Harris, he will be one of the headline names on the free agency market this offseason.