The Steelers decided not to exercise Najee Harris‘ fifth-year option, making him eligible for free agency in 2025. Harris’ future with Pittsburgh is uncertain, but there is a possibility of reaching an agreement to keep him with the team beyond the upcoming season.

If the option had been exercised, Harris would have been owed $6.79MM in 2025, a move that was initially expected by the Steelers. However, his performance this season will play a significant role in determining his value in the open market. General manager Omar Khan confirmed that Harris could still be part of the team’s plans despite not exercising the option.

“It was a business decision that we had to make,” Khan said during an interview on 93.7 The Fan. “But Najee’s awesome to have around here. Love Najee as a player and a person. Just because we didn’t pick it up doesn’t exclude us from doing something with Najee long term… We just felt right now that was the right decision for everyone. I love Najee. I’d love to have him here long term.”

The changing landscape of quarterback contracts has influenced how teams allocate resources at other positions, such as running back. With the current market trends, both Harris and Jaylen Warren are on rookie contracts, with Warren proving to be a valuable option in the backfield so far.

Pittsburgh has a cost-effective quarterback situation for the time being, but new deals will be necessary to keep Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields beyond 2025. This could impact the team’s ability to retain Harris in the long term.

While a Harris re-signing is a possibility, the situation is still fluid, and the team’s approach to valuing the running back position will be closely monitored as the 2024 season progresses.