Steelers don’t need to break the bank on Najee Harris backup
The time periods between the NFL Draft, free agency, OTAs, and official training camps can be slow, leading to a lot of time on-hand to speculate about what teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the National Football League will do once camp officially kicks off. We’ve been keeping up with rumors and “takes” for months, analyzing the soundness of the opinions being shared publicly. We’re fans, too, after all. One topic that isn’t strongly supported surrounds what the Steelers should, or should not, do in regard to a backup running back to 2021 rookie phenom Najee Harris. After careful consideration of various presentations, the idea that the Steelers need to break the bank by bringing in a high-dollar backup, though, is unsound.
In a previous article, Steel City Underground’s Joe Kuzma went into some depth about the Steelers’ current running back room. Outside of Harris, the Steelers currently have Trey Edmunds, Anthony McFarland Jr., and Benny Snell Jr. as “veterans” with rookies Mataeo Durant and Jaylen Warren. Kuzma wrote:
It would be wise to add someone else to the mix, as the only other options on the roster are change-of-pace back Anthony McFarland, perennial practice-squader Trey Edmunds, and two undrafted rookies.
The fact that Kalen Ballage got more work behind Harris during the 2021 NFL season seems to speak to the fact that Pittsburgh has held onto McFarland, Edmunds, and Snell as guys they trust enough for a snap here and there; they haven’t given them a major workload, however, as a true number two.
Kuzma suggested that the Steelers should keep their eyes peeled for “camp casualties” – guys like Stevan Ridley and DeAngelo Williams – who have veteran experience as a primary ball-carrier and could give the team a consistent backup option behind Harris.
What the Steelers need to beware of, though, is picking up a veteran rusher that would bite them in the backside; a guy like LeGarrette Blount. In 2014, Blount signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh and subsequently took Le’Veon Bell on an expensive ride that resulted in both running backs being arrested for marijuana possession (Bell also received a DUI). Blount put together just one 100-plus yard game for the Steelers and barely had much time with the ball after a costly error in a loss to the New York Jets in November. The following week, Blount walked off the field before the game officially ended against the Tennessee Titans. His total contribution to the team? Two touchdowns and 266 rushing yards. He then re-joined the New England Patriots and won a Super Bowl with them.
Despite several analysts suggesting that Harris had a pedestrian season, possibly picking up off of a Kevin Colbert soundbite in which he said, “it wasn’t the start [Harris] envisioned, but he and we hope there is more,” and the fact that he only had three 100-yard plus rushing games, it seems extreme to think that the Steelers will seek out a running back by committee situation for 2022.
Harris was still able to finish his rookie season with 1,200 yards behind a piece-meal offensive line that was one of the youngest and most-changed units, week to week. He was also an effective piece of the pass offense when utilized.
If Matt Canada is intent on building his offense around Harris, the Steelers likely need to spell him, on average, around ten snaps per game – or 180 snaps – this upcoming season. Going after a player who’d only accept a high-dollar deal, however, is unnecessary.
Darrel Williams, who rushed for 558 yards and caught 47 passes (eight touchdowns total) behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire in Kansas City (Chiefs) is 27 and recently signed a team-friendly deal with the Arizona Cardinals. His contract qualified for the veteran benefit, making his cap hit less than the money paid out on a one-year deal. He’ll get $1.19 M but his hit will be only $1.05 M – a savings of $140,000.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan is likely already scouring rosters for a guy, like Williams, that would take a veteran backup role that wouldn’t break the bank. For 180 snaps, it’d be ridiculous to ink a high-dollar deal. In fact, the smart move would be to make a deal close to what Williams and Arizona did in case, heaven forbid, something were to happen to Harris that required a major move on the roster.
The Steelers could opt for the cheapest option: keeping the guys they already have on their roster and giving them a chance to show what they can do. That’s why training camp is such a great evaluation tool.
Time will tell what happens, but it’s a certainty that there’s no reason to mortgage the franchise for a backup to Harris.
