The Pittsburgh Steelers weapons are not ideal, especially after trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson. It’s quite clear they must improve, but they should feel like they have strength in their backfield at running back, where Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren should become a solid duo while Cordarrelle Patterson flanks as the third running back. But not everyone is convinced even that is good.
On First Things First, Nick Wright blasted the entire offensive weaponry for Pittsburgh and downplayed the impact that Harris and Warren will have.
“The Steelers do not have good weapons,” Wright said. “I think Najee is below average, flatly. I think Jaylen Warren, every team’s got a Jaylen Warren, a guy who, if you can get six carries a game, looks dynamic. If you are in today’s game do not have a Jaylen Warren, what are you doing? Their wide receivers, they have that is talented a total malcontent. In that, do they have the worst weapons? Obviously.”
Harris became the first player in Steelers history to run for 1,000 or more yards in each of the first three seasons of his career. He had the best season of his career in terms of yards per carry in 2023. Harris rushed 255 times for 1,035 yards — a 4.1 yards per carry average — and he scored eight touchdowns. Harris had rushed for 3.9 and 3.8 yards per carry one each of his first two seasons.
Second-year back Jaylen Warren ran for 5.3 yards per carry, one of the best figures in the league in 2023. He ran 149 times for 784 yards and four touchdowns. He was also more involved in the passing game, catching 61 passes for 370 yards compared to 29 receptions for 170 yards for Harris. It seems like Arthur Smith will want to keep these two together.
Harris’ price tag will come in at $6.790 million since he has not made a Pro Bowl straight-up in the eyes of the league. He was selected to one Pro Bowl, but as an alternate, which does not affect his fifth-year option price tag. But even when that happens, Harris will need to be paid at some point. And with the re-set of the running back market in 2024, guys like Saquon Barkley did well for themselves