Fourth-year RB Najee Harris is one of the most important free agents the Steelers have in March. Harris, a former first-round pick, did not have his fifth-year option picked up by the team. He has spoken about his future with the same attitude several times throughout the season. Basically, it’s not the right time for it.

The Steelers’ season has ended early, but Najee Harris still isn’t planning on his future. When asked by Brian Batko if he would like to be back with the team in 2025, Chris Adamski quoted him as saying, “I haven’t thought much about it.”

Harris finished the season with 1,043 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 263 carries. He averaged only about four yards per carry, albeit with a career-low completion rate of 43.7 percent. Harris played a larger role in the Steelers’ passing game with 283 yards on 36 catches. His six total touchdowns are a career low in his four seasons.

Najee Harris’ season was similar to the Steelers’ offensively, fluctuating between hot and cold. In the last three games before the bye, he totaled 322 yards and two touchdowns on 54 attempts, gaining nearly six yards per carry. Outside of that three-game stretch, he never averaged more than 75 rushing yards in a single game.

Against the Ravens, the Steelers only rushed for 29 yards with a long of five yards on 11 total attempts. Najee Harris contributed six attempts for 17 yards, just 2.8 yards per attempt. His 17 rushing yards are the third fewest in a game of his career, his fifth under 20 yards.

What’s notable is that the numbers are particularly bad in the postseason. Through three games, Najee Harris has 83 rushing yards, albeit on 35 attempts. That’s still less than 2.4 yards per attempt for the Steelers in three postseason games, with zero touchdowns.

The Steelers started this season with the goal of boosting the running game. While much of their failure can be attributed to the offensive line throughout, they also need to consider a change at running back. Najee Harris is an unrestricted free agent and they have already offered an affordable fifth-year option.

Their other answer in the backfield is Jaylen Warren, who is a restricted free agent in 2025. The Steelers will likely tender him in the second round, but Cordarrelle Patterson’s $3 million contract may not survive. As for Harris, perhaps it will depend on what his market looks like.

A first look at the 2025 free agency running back market includes Najee Harris, Aaron Jones, Nick Chubb, JK Dobbins, AJ Dillon, Javonte Williams and a variety of characters. It’s unclear whether the Steelers are still clinging to a bell cow back — if they had one. Apparently, as his career progressed, they stopped viewing Harris as that kind of player. Warren’s rise had something to do with it, but he would have played more if they had seen him in that light. But how much does Harris want to come back, depending on his market?