Pros and Cons of Lions Trading for RB Najee Harris
The Detroit Lions have been hit hard by injuries at the running back position, as both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have missed game action this season.
As a result, they've had to rely on their depth. Craig Reynolds has seen plenty of carries, while Zonovan Knight chipped in before suffering a season-ending injury of his own.
With all the injuries, the Lions have made multiple moves as of late. They've signed both Devine Ozigbo and Mohamed Ibrahim to their practice squad and even elevated Ozigbo to the active roster for last week's game.
Yet, could the team benefit from adding a running back via the trade market?
One player who was recently named a potential trade candidate is Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris. The running back is in the third year of his rookie contract and has been spelled for playing time by backup Jaylen Warren.
The talented running back may be on the move as a result, especially given the recent hang-ups in negotiations between teams and running backs when it comes to second contracts.
For the Lions, a trade would have its perks. Harris is under team control until 2024 with a team option for 2025. If a move were to be made, it would allow the team multiple years before having to make a decision on his contract.
Additionally, he's rushed for over 1,000 yards in both of his NFL seasons and has caught at least 40 passes in each as well. This season, Warren's emergence has lightened his workload.
There's plenty of talent with the former Alabama running back, but a trade like this would make little sense given the team's recent investments at the position. Yes, Montgomery could be headed for an injured reserve stint as the result of his rib injury, but they signed him to a three-year deal in the offseason and then drafted Gibbs No. 12 overall.
By bringing another running back of this magnitude in, it would create a log jam of sorts when all three are healthy.
Detroit likes what it has in Craig Reynolds as the team's third option. Though his career statistics do not indicate he can be a full-time starter, he's made the team coming out of the last two training camps, while having plenty of key moments stepping up in for injured players.
A move like this also requires draft capital, which is something general manager Brad Holmes may be unwilling to part with for Harris. The Lions have already made two significant commitments at this position, so a third is unlikely despite the recent injuries.
Because of that confidence in Reynolds, along with the recent commitments to players at the position, I believe Detroit's third-year general manager would pass on this trade if offered, holding on to valuable draft capital instead.
