The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Najee Harris with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. After four successful seasons, the Steelers did not extend him, allowing the Los Angeles Chargers to scoop him up, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s a one-year deal for $9.25 million.
Harris may not have been the flashiest back in the league or a constant on Sportscenter, but he was uber-consistent in his first four seasons in the league. He did not miss a game, starting all 68, racked up over 1,000 yards in every season and scored at least 6 rushing touchdowns in each. Harris also showed receiving chops, catching 74 of 94 targets during his rookie season, but the volume dissipated over the next three seasons.
Harris had a -0.09 EPA per carry, the 23rd-best in the NFL last season, but the Steelers had the 24th-ranked offensive line according to PFF and had the eighth-worst EPA per carry as a team.
Harris now joins a Chargers team that, while only having the 18th-ranked offensive line, is a much better offensive environment than the one in Pittsburgh. For starters, Justin Herbert is one of the better quarterbacks in the league and Jim Harbaugh is committed to the run. The team made investments in the offensive line during last season and will likely continue to fortify the trenches.
Los Angeles was 23rd in passing rate and Harbaugh does want to play ball-control offense.
As of now, Harris could be a bell cow back, as JK Dobbins was only signed to a one-year contract last season and is an unrestricted free agent. Harris has good size at 6-foot-1 and 232 pounds and is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Herbert has fed running backs in the passing game before so, if the Chargers do not bring in any signficant competition, Harris could be a great fantasy target.
