The Pittsburgh Steelers have braced for running back Najee Harris to leave for the better part of a year after turning down his fifth-year option, and it certainly seems that will be coming to fruition. General manager Omar Khan did not close the door on Harris returning to the team, but it certainly seems that Harris will be paid well with a strong free agent market.
Harris is expected to get around $10 million per year. That is what former NFL agent Joel Corry believes Harris will end up getting. After the Minnesota Vikings just paid Aaron Jones a two-year, $20 million contract, Harris, 27, should come in above that number.
There could be a few teams that make sense for him, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers. Harris is one of only 14 running backs in NFL history to have more than 1000 yards in each of their first four seasons, but it has not been an efficient effort.
Harris averages 3.9 yards per carry in his career, which has held him back from being viewed as a top running back in the NFL. Still, since he has not missed a game with an injury, his durability is appreciated by teams. It should give Harris a significant market, one that the Steelers will not play in with a strong running back draft class.
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