Steelers make shrewd business move that could mark the beginning of the end for Najee Harris in Pittsburgh

In a fairly shocking decision, the Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to decline starting RB Najee Harris' 5th-year option.

First reported by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette , the team has decided to see what Harris will look like under new OC Arthur Smith before making any more commitments:

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Najee Harris to test free agency in 2025

Harris was drafted 24th overall out of the University of Alabama, making Steelers history through the first three years of his career. Harris is the first and only back in franchise history to start his career with three straight 1000-yard rushing seasons.

That stat speaks not only to his durability but his overall utility and week-in-week-out performance, often despite poor play from his offensive line, something he dealt with until the back half of the 2023 season.

Harris has played and started in all 51 games of his career, recording over 4000 yards from scrimmage and 28 total touchdowns in just three years.

So the decision to decline his fifth-year option comes as an utter shock, although an extension isn't being ruled out.

Harris is labeled as a tier-three running back on the rookie wage scale . That totaled his fifth-year option at $6.79m, a modest number for a proven producer, even at the RB position. But Pittsburgh has decided that's too much to pay, setting Harris up to play out the final year of his rookie deal with no future commitment.

Harris will now be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

But Pittsburgh obviously feels differently. Harris will be asked to continue his production, but in a new scheme and with a new play-caller.

The Steelers say they are open to doing an extension after the season, but if Harris continues to produce at the rate he has, he may feel jaded by this decision and opt for a new team next year.

Either way, Pittsburgh's top two QBs, starting right guard, starting tight end and top RB are now all set to perform on a one-year deal, further pointing to the team's win-now or blow it all up mentality.

Steelers Decline Justin Fields' Fifth-Year Option

Unlike Harris, Fields carries a heavy fifth-year option amount seeing as he was the 11th overall pick and plays the league's most prominent position of QB.

Shelling out over $25 million for a backup QB that you're not sure will be on the team past this season was always going to be out of the cards, as reported before the draft.

If Fields performs above expectations, however, a long-term deal is still very much on the table.

Related: OL specialist is skeptical of lauded Steelers draft pick