© Vincent Carchietta, Charles LeClaire
Saquon Barkley Asks Steelers' Najee Harris to Continue Trend
Saquon Barkley sees the Pittsburgh Steelers runner as the next big signing.
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have a decision to make on whether or not they will pick up Najee Harris's fifth-year option. When asked about it, general manager Omar Khan said the team will utilize all of the time provided until the May 2 deadline to make the decision, which if chosen to not pick it up, would result in the running back becoming a free agent next offseason.
Up until this current offseason, the running back market was shrinking. Big names like Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs were being franchised tagged and it appeared the position was losing value, even in their top players.
This offseason, Barkley helped make the switch, signing a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, he's hoping the running backs after him continue to carry the upward trend.
"That’s your goal, you want to get to a second contract," Barkley said on the New Heights Podcast. "I feel like where I got, it’s like now, Bijan, Jahmyr, Najee, you boys, go beat me. I’m a competitor, I’m trying to go out this year, especially with the situation I’m in now, I’m trying to be the best running back. No questions about it. But let’s push each other. Let’s all drive it."
Harris, 26, has three-consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career, being named to a Pro Bowl and becoming an instant impact player for the Steelers after being drafted 24th overall in 2021.
"Obviously, Najee's been consistent since he's been with us. I think I saw a statistic about his 3000-yard season, being in rare company and I just think that that illustrates how he's been for us," head coach Mike Tomlin said at the NFL Meetings.
If the Steelers choose not to pick up Harris's fifth-year option, they could choose to extend him instead, But with Jaylen Warren continuing to grow and the running back market just turning to an upward trajectory, it's unknown if they'd view him a long-term player for them.
