The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a concerted effort to improve their offense in 2024, making wholesale changes on that side of the ball. Arthur Smith will be installing a new system as offensive coordinator and the unit will be led by a new quarterback.
Gone are Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. Replacing them are veteran Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who were signed after a release from the Denver Broncos and acquired in a trade from the Chicago Bears, respectively.
The Steelers still have some work to do with the supporting cast around them. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers and a bonafide replacement has not been found yet. The team did use a third-round pick on Roman Wilson out of Michigan, who could be their new slot receiver.
Pittsburgh made strides to improve the offensive line, using first, second and fourth-round picks in the trenches. Interestingly, based on reports surfacing today, the Steelers did not use a selection on a running back.
That comes as somewhat of a surprise as it is being reported the Steelers are declining the fifth-year option on the contract of running back Najee Harris. NFL insider Jordan Schultz shared the update on X.
ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter added that the Steelers aren’t ruling out a deal getting done down the line. But, for now, Harris will be slated to hit unrestricted free agency during the 2025 NFL offseason.
This is a bold move for the Steelers, as Harris has recorded 1,000+ yards in all three of his seasons as a pro. The No. 24 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has not only been productive for Pittsburgh but durable.
He has played in all 51 regular season games and two postseason games in his career. That kind of availability is rare in the NFL these days and something Harris should be commended for, as he has been a workhorse for the Steelers.
He has carried the ball 834 times with 144 receptions, totaling 4,135 yards from scrimmage with 28 total touchdowns. His touches have gone down each season with the emergence of Jaylen Warren, but Harris remains an integral part of the team’s game plan. That isn’t expected to change with the run-heavy system Smith normally deploys.
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