Najee Harris the Real Winner of Steelers NFL Draft Haul
When Pittsburgh Steelers' new general manager Omar Khan orchestrated a trade-up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to secure Georgia left tackle Broderick Jones, the entire city was elated.
Left tackle was clearly one of the team's biggest needs, and the organization's aggressiveness was well founded on the lack of depth in the tackle class.
When this move was made, many pointed to the obvious narrative involving pairing the young franchise quarterback, Kenny Pickett, with a physically gifted, young left tackle with tremendous upside. In the long run, that's certainly a partnership getting excited for, but the real winner from draft weekend wasn't Pickett. It was Steelers tailback, Najee Harris.
Harris, the team's first-round pick in 2021, hasn't quite set the world on fire in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. There have certainly been flashes, but the lack of efficiency obviously isn't what you'd expect when you break one of professional football's biggest cardinal sins: selecting a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft.
You could certainly argue that circumstances beyond Harris' control have been the biggest reasons for some of the subpar numbers. In 2021, Harris was thrust in as a rookie, playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the National Football League. The following year, Harris was dealing with a foot injury for the better part of the first half of the season, which clearly limited his ability to cut and plant at full speed, which limited his effectiveness.
Pittsburgh's moves on draft night signaled an understanding that in order to get the most out of their investment, Harris needed more help. Furthermore, the Steelers needed to establish an identity on offense. That message is now crystal clear; they're getting back to their smash-mouth, brawling style of football reminiscent of Jerome Bettis and the 1990s.
For as much upside as new left tackle Jones has as a pass protector, he's already a much more refined and impactful run blocker. He's incredibly powerful with hands that pack a pop and easily generate push off of the line of scrimmage. To go along with all of that, Jones excels whenever he's asked to get out in space, whether that be on pulls to the perimeter or just getting to the second level on linebackers. The best part of his game might be his temperament, as he's a finisher with a nasty demeanor who is capable of setting the tone up front.
Turn on any Georgia game from this past season, and you'll see exactly that. You'll also see big #0, Darnell Washington, right beside him, clearing out running lanes and imposing his will on smaller defenders.
Washington did a ton of the dirty work for Georgia's offense, lining up in line and blocking defensive ends or getting out in space on the perimeter. Similar to Jones, Washington plays to the whistle and puts the fear of god in defenders with his unique combination of size, strength and athleticism.
Even as an Alabama guy, it likely only took Harris 5-10 clips before he was fully on board with the Steelers draft haul. After the Bye Week, Harris looked like a different player and resembled the force that the SEC became accustomed to seeing every Saturday. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry to close the season with the offense gelling more and more behind their run-heavy game plans.
With the additions of Isaac Seumalo at guard, Jones at left tackle, and Washington as their traditional in-line tight end, Pittsburgh is certainly leaning into this identity this offseason. While Pickett's year-two jump and overall continued development is still the most important aspect of Pittsburgh's ceiling, Harris is likely the catalyst and focal point for next year's offense.
After the Bye Week, Harris was second in the NFL in yards after contact with 659 yards, trailing only Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor, according to Sports Info Solutions. But the exciting part of next year is that there's potential for him not to have to do so much of his work after being contacted by potential tacklers with an offensive line capable of springing him toward big runs at the second level.
Pittsburgh seems like one of the few teams in the league that are leaning into the idea of getting bigger, more physical up front to take advantage of these lighter boxes and defensive linemen in the run game. Football, like most sports, is cyclical, and who knows, they could be at the forefront of this movement.
One thing is for sure- opposing defenses better have their chin straps buckled and mouthpieces in whenever Pittsburgh is in town next season. This offense has been rebuilt from the ground up, with an objective to run downhill, early and often.
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