All 90 is a Pittsburgh Steelers Now series profiling each of the 90 members of the Steelers 2022 offseason roster.
22 • Najee Harris, second-year running back, Alabama
6-foot-2, 230 pounds
Acquired: Drafted with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the first time the Steelers used a first-round pick on a running back since 2008.
Last Season: Harris had a promising rookie season in many ways, though the overall quality of his work can be debated. He was a workhorse at possibly the game’s most challenging position for durability, starting all 17 games and playing in 84% of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps.
He finished second in the NFL in rushing attempts with 307 and fourth in yards with 1,200 and was selected to the Pro Bowl squad as an alternate.
But while he got a lot of work, his rate stats were less impressive. Harris’ 3.9 yards per carry tied him for 40th in the league. Part of that lack of per-carry success has to fall on the Steelers offensive line, but Harris certainly has room to improve on his rookie numbers, as well.
College: A rare two-year starter at the running back position for Nick Saban’s Alabama Squad, Harris rushed for 1,224 yards as a junior in 2019, but returned to Tuscaloosa for his senior season in 2020, winning a second national title and the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best back. Harris finished as the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader in rushing yards with 3,843 and touchdowns with 57.
Camp outlook: Harris is the starter, and there’s no question about that. Some things to look for this camp are how much the team feels it can trust backups Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland, whether Harris will still get that big usage rate like he did last year, and how much he’s involved in the passing game going forward.
Future: Harris’ rookie deal runs through 2024 and the Steelers possess an option for 2025.
The rest of the 90:
