The Steelers did Najee wrong

This is exactly it

Tag him and you have a disgruntled player who already has shown that he can be a problem

Let him test the market then match if they want

5th year option was not a good option

There is no question there was a lot of talk behind the scenes with his agent before this decision was made

Transition tag sounds about right

Edit: Non exclusive tag not transition

 

See I disagree here. This is the whole "running backs grow on trees argument". I don't buy into that. Najee is a guy who gets 1000 yards a year, doesn't get injured, and is one of the most surehanded backs in the league when it comes to not fumbling. I am not suggesting the Steelers should have broken the bank to extend him, but he was well worth giving the option to.

 

I expect a tag but not the franchise tag

They made the right choice

 

This is why the option would have made perfect sense. You get two more seasons of a quality back. Then let some other team take the hit on a big contract for a back on the backside of his career.

 

Just like with receivers the steelers FO believes they can replace Najee. I for one agree. He is good but not great. Don't believe there is anything wrong with wanting to see how the offense performs

 

The franchise tag for a running back is $11,951,000. The transition tag costs $9,765,000.

If the Steelers were not willing to pick up an option for $7 mill, why would they tag him? It wouldn't make any sense.

 

No

This is not correct

But you did get yourself some attention with the clickbait title

 

What exactly did he write that is incorrect?

 

I would have picked up the 5th year option, IMHO. It was for peanuts in today's NFL world. Plus we are already minus at least one draft pick next year for Fields (either a 6th or a 4th) so why create a need when the 5th year could have been selected.

I think Najee is an above average back that moves the chains, is good in pass protection and doesn't lose the rock. He's pretty durable as well.

 

The Steelers did Najee wrong

 

You are correct

I typed too fast

Non exclusive tag

 

I would have picked up the tag personally. Najee is better than he gets credit for and has been running uphill since he got to the Steelers behind one of the worst lines in the league.

That said I understand their decision. The option year is guaranteed for injury so that risk is now gone. If he plays well in 2024 and is happy to stay they can try to extend him after the season, he probably won’t get much more than $7m APY unless he has a huge breakout year which is unlikely. He doesn’t have the breakaway speed that other running backs have and that’s always going to keep him in the second tier of backs IMO

 

Exactly

A couple of knuckleheads think just because we have cap space we should just spend it

 

It's a rough business at RB. I personally wouldn't sign any past their rookie with the current price tag. I'd contine to focus on the trenches. If you have a tight end that can stretch the field in today's game you pay them.

I like Najee also but someone will overpay him.

There are many examples of RBs that quickly decline after their first contract. For example, it turned out to be the right call to not give Leveon Bell all the guaranteed money he asked even for all he did.

Fair? No, but life isn't fair.

 

I thought this had already been discussed ad nauseam but I'll bite anyway. I wasn't overly worked up when they didn't sign him to the option and I wouldn't have been worked up had they signed him to it. I'm more or less indifferent because I just don't see Harris as a piece they absolute need for the future.
Harris is a good back. A durable and reliable back for sure and that's a big deal. However, it's apparent the Steelers have a plan in place moving forward in Smith's system and maybe Harris doesn't fit that as well as we think.
I don't always agree with the moves the Steelers make but it is an undeniable fact that they are better at that job than I or any of you would be. I guess I'm just too trusting that they know what they're doing. Most of the time, I don't.

 

Because the 5th year option is 100% guaranteed as soon as the option is signed. Next years tags are not guaranteed until next year when they are signed

I believe the Steelers made a mistake by not picking up his 5th year option, but from a worse case scenario they don't have to pay Najee a dime next year if he gets injured this year.

And, then there is always the possibility that Najee becomes the backup RB to Jalen Warren.

 

Najee now is in a prove it year

Sign him to the 5th and he can coast for 2 years

That would’ve been a bad move

Then toss in his previous comments and using the 5th year would most likely make him a hostage and difficult

Nothing to gain by 5th lots to loose

Good decision

 

that is what Barkley did.....except he never called back.

this is Najee's last season as a Steeler

I think the 5th yr option was a good option - Smith, Khan and Tomlin were not interested, based on where we are going, apparently.

 

He's good enough to be paid less than 7 million for a team that wants to run the ball, that salary would've put him right around the top 12 paid RBs.

 

That will be more than the 5th year option would've cost.

 

Henry is a freak as an RB at his size, if you were expecting Najee to be that guy you should watch more college football .

 

What up Cali?

 

Rushed for 1,200 yards and caught 70 passes as a rookie behind a trash OL, his playing time was reduced the next two seasons due to Warren playing more.

 

Warren will be a restricted FA I think next year, he will be back next season.

 

Why would he coast for two years ?