Steelers GM Omar Khan: 'We think very highly' of Najee Harris ahead of fifth-year option decision

As Najee Harris gets ready for his fourth NFL season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a decision. The franchise has until May 2 to pick up his fifth-year option following an up-and-down start to his career.

Under the NFL’s updated salary cap numbers, Harris’ option would be worth nearly $6.79 million, according to Over The Cap. At the NFL Scouting Combine this week, though, general manager Omar Khan said the team still has time to figure out what it wants to do.

Of course, Mike Tomlin made a change at offensive coordinator by bringing in Arthur Smith to replace Matt Canada – another factor in the decision.

“We have until the first week in May to make a decision,” Khan said, via Steelers Depot’s Josh Carney. “We have a new offensive coordinator, so that’s gonna play into the decision-making process. We’re having conversations with Arthur. It’s been great.

“We’ve been engaging frequently — coach Tomlin and Arthur and I — we’ve kind of been talking about the offense and what the vision is for it. And we think very highly of Najee and we’ll make the decision before May 2.”

Pittsburgh selected Harris with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has started all 51 games in which he’s appeared. He has at least 1,000 rushing yards in all three seasons with the Steelers, and His best year came as a rookie when he had 1,200 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also adding 467 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the passing game – both of which are still career-highs.

In the two seasons since, though Harris’ numbers dropped to 1,034 rushing yards in 2022 and 1,035 rushing yards in 2023. He also failed to catch a receiving touchdown for the first time in his career this past season as he split time with rookie Jaylen Warren.

Now, Pittsburgh is left dealing with what to do with Harris’ contract. Earlier in the offseason, owner Art Rooney II pointed out the “key decision” the franchise has to make with its top running back.

“A lot of thought, a lot of analysis goes into making those decisions,” Rooney said. “We’ll be working on that as well as all the other things we have to do in the offseason. But that’ll be a key decision as we get closer to the draft in May.”

The Steelers still have two more months to finalize their move on Najee Harris, with the deadline coming up May 2.