Najee Harris, Ashton Jeanty Top NFL Landing Spots After Aaron Jones' Vikings Contract

The first move has been made in the running back market this offseason.

After Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones re-signed with the team on a two-year, $20 million deal, the question remains where Najee Harris will land in free agency and Ashton Jeanty in the draft.

Harris, an unrestricted free agent, was drafted No. 24 overall in 2021 out of Alabama by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After navigating the franchise's instability at quarterback with Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, he is now seeking a fresh start after his fifth-year option was declined last season.

The 26-year-old rushed for 1,043 yards on 263 carries with six touchdowns last season and is now searching for a new team as possibly one of the most overlooked free agents on the market.

Jeanty, out of Boise State, had a standout college football season last year, racking up 29 touchdowns on 374 carries and 2,601 total rushing yards—leading the nation in all three categories.

The junior aided in Boise State's impressive 12-2 record in 2024, culminating in a Mountain West Conference championship and a Fiesta Bowl appearance, propelled them to an AP poll ranking of No. 8—their highest since 2011.

Here's a look at potential landing spots for both players.

Najee Harris

San Francisco 49ers

Talks between the 49ers and Harris have been in the works before, with significant discussions taking place prior to last season. However, at the time, the Steelers were not yet ready to part ways with the running back.

With 49ers star Christian McCaffrey dealing with injuries since his arrival in 2022–including playing in just four games last season–adding Harris could provide much-needed stability. San Francisco has explored pairing McCaffrey with another back in the past and Harris could be a strong complement to their backfield.

"The 49ers could use a running back who can take some of the load off Christian McCaffrey," CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo said. "Making this scenario even more plausible is the fact that Harris grew up on the West Coast, so this would be a homecoming of sorts."

Cleveland Browns

Browns running back Nick Chubb is expected to explore his options this offseason as an unrestricted free agent and in response, the team is prepared to evaluate the top free agents on the market, according to general manager Andrew Berry.

Chubb returned from a significant knee injury last season but suffered a broken foot in December, ending his season early once again. The Browns may be seeking a more reliable long-term option, which could come in the form of Harris.

Las Vegas Raiders

With a new head coach at the helm in Pete Carroll, the Raiders will certainly be looking to add a star running back to their roster, along with a reliable quarterback.

Las Vegas was ranked dead last in average rushing yards per game last season, and USA Today's Tyler Dragon noted that Carrol will likely establish a running game—much like he did in Seattle—that has been missing from the Raiders' offense recently.

"Pop on the film from Carroll’s days in Seattle with Marshawn Lynch. Harris can run in a similar zone-run schemed offense," Dragon said. 

Ashton Jeanty

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were another team that struggled significantly in their run game last season, ranking sixth to last in average rushing yards per game, with running back Rico Dowdle and second-stringer Deuce Vaughn leading the charge.

Dallas officially holds the No. 12 pick in the NFL Draft, despite rumors that the team may pass on Jeanty or trade their pick with the Broncos at No. 20, according to Cowboys Wire’s KD Drummond. However, Jeanty has been linked to the Cowboys since the draft order was announced and with his unique skill set, he would be an excellent fit following the team's decision to part ways with longtime running back Ezekiel Elliott.

No one has shown more interest in the possibility of ending up in Dallas than Jeanty himself.

"I think it would be dope, a lot of great people there, a lot of talented players," Jeanty told reporters in February. "Potentially to be a part of that, I think that would be a great opportunity."

Los Angeles Chargers

Bleacher Report's Scouting Department predicts Jeanty will be drafted by the Chargers at No. 21 in their latest mock draft following the NFL Combine.

The Chargers finished 11-6 last season with running back J.K. Dobbins, who had 905 rushing yards. Bringing in Jeanty to team up with Justin Herbert and rekindle the once stellar running game, reminiscent of when veteran Austin Ekeler partnered with the quarterback, would provide the Chargers with the boost they've been searching for since drafting Herbert out of Oregon in 2020.

"Justin Herbert and Jeanty in the same backfield is an exciting proposition," Bleacher Report's Dame Parson said.

Chicago Bears

The Bears had a disappointing 5-12 season despite the impressive play of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. With wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen attempting to carry the offense, the Bears will need a running back to complete the puzzle.

However, for Jeanty to truly shine in Chicago, the team will need to invest in a stronger offensive line, as Williams led the league in sacks taken with 68.

The Bears hold the No. 10 pick in the draft, with a real possibility of selecting Jeanty to strengthen their program under new leadership, who is likely to implement a heavy run game after it was neglected last season.