PITTSBURGH — Najee Harris is approaching a crucial season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team’s first-round pick from 2021 is now in his fourth NFL season. With the Steelers declining his fifth-year option, this might be Harris’ final year with the team.
Harris appears determined to have his best season yet and secure a new contract. One NFL insider noted that Harris has even lost weight in preparation. Team analyst and color commentator Craig Wolfley discussed this during his appearance on the Big Blue Kickoff Live show, hosted by the New York Giants’ Paul Dattino.
Wolfley praised Harris and his offseason efforts, highlighting his weight loss. He believes this could make Najee more explosive.
“Najee Harris has slimmed down, dropped some weight,” Wolfley said. “Remember, before Le’Veon Bell was drafted, Mike Tomlin told him to lose about 20 pounds, and Bell did, becoming a terrific running back despite how things ended. Now, Najee Harris has come into spring training having dropped some weight.”
The comparison to Le’Veon Bell is a curious one by Wolfley. Aside from their playing weight, the two running backs played very different styles.
Harris is known for his powerful running style, excelling at making plays between the tackles and being difficult to tackle. He has achieved over 1,000 rushing yards in every NFL season of his career.
However, unlike Bell, Harris isn’t known for his breakaway speed. Since joining the league in 2021, he has only recorded three runs of over 30 yards and 15 runs of over 20 yards. While part of this can be attributed to a struggling offense, it also confirms the scouting reports from his college days.
Entering a pivotal season, Harris has to be at his best. He is likely playing his final season with the Steelers but could put himself in line to earn a large payday on the open market. With a slimmer build and a determined mindset, Najee Harris should be an absolute force in 2024.
