Any Najee Harris skeptics left?

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Yeah, there was a damn good case for drafting OL first, but the guy has done everything expected plus more.

[Jizz Mop]

Yeah, there was a damn good case for drafting OL first, but the guy has done everything expected plus more.

Stud

Spend the money and draft capital to give him a line

[LakecrestSteeler]

Yeah, there was a damn good case for drafting OL first, but the guy has done everything expected plus more.

He will be the face of the offense when Ben leaves. I have a feeling he will be the vocal leader and do what I do leader this offense has been desperately needing in addition to just the QB!

[zeke5123]

Sub 4 YPC. Premium pick on a guy who likely won’t be worth C2 because RBs have short shelf life.

It is t hating the player; the guy just needs to be one of the best three backs in the league from day 1.

Look, not saying he wasn’t good the last two games but…was he even the best RB on the field today?

[langer]

Over here, yes. He looked not particularly good today and ran into a wad of bodies again

Does he need Dickerson glasses? Serious question.

He doesn’t look like a first round pick at all.

[tbsteel]

Sub 4 YPC. Premium pick on a guy who likely won’t be worth C2 because RBs have short shelf life.

It is t hating the player; the guy just needs to be one of the best three backs in the league from day 1.

Look, not saying he wasn’t good the last two games but…was he even the best RB on the field today?

Nah Zeke, you're not going to find any nuance today on here. Najee made some great plays late, including an amazing catch on a bad pass behind him and high on the OT drive that won it, but using a first round pick on a RB, especially a RB who isn't ever going to give you hardly any explosive plays and lacks great natural vision, was and still is arguably a mistake.

[zeke5123]

Over here, yes. He looked not particularly good today and ran into a wad of bodies again

Does he need Dickerson glasses? Serious question.

He doesn’t look like a first round pick at all.

There was a play where he tried to bust it outside when he had an easy 4 yards running into the hole with maybe 6 if he carried the defender.

His vision is still questionable.

I think the guy is an NFL rb. I don’t think you will get first round value out of him.

[Steelperch]

Over here, yes. He looked not particularly good today and ran into a wad of bodies again

Does he need Dickerson glasses? Serious question.

He doesn’t look like a first round pick at all.

My God these people do exist.

[zeke5123]

Sub 4 YPC. Premium pick on a guy who likely won’t be worth C2 because RBs have short shelf life.

It is t hating the player; the guy just needs to be one of the best three backs in the league from day 1.

Look, not saying he wasn’t good the last two games but…was he even the best RB on the field today?

Nah Zeke, you're not going to find any nuance today on here. Najee made some great plays late, including an amazing catch on a bad pass behind him and high on the OT drive that won it, but using a first round pick on a RB, especially a RB who isn't ever going to give you hardly any explosive plays and lacks great natural vision, was and still is arguably a mistake.

Thanks TBS. Some will take my post as shitting on Harris. I’m not. I think he is a fine NFL back. But fine isn’t good enough given the relatively low value of RBs and the short shelf life.

Edit — you can like a player and think he was still over drafted. If Harris was a mode or late second rounder / early third it would be a great pick.

It is kind of like Edmunds. Dude was over drafted but turned into (except the first ten weeks this year) a solid safety.

[PennyBacker]

Nobody is here to argue that OL was not and is not (still) a group that could be upgraded. Regardless, there wasn't anyone, at any position, who was available to draft @ #24 this season who was going to have a greater impact for the Steelers than Najee Harris.

The argument that Harris has been one of the best 3 backs in the league this season can be made. He's been the best back for feeding touches; he hasn't fumbled. Those are two areas of reliability which are crucial for Pittsburgh to effectively run its ball control offense. He's been ideal and perfect for this team. (Even if someone disagrees, hates, etc. the offensive approach)

For this, likely Ben's last go round, Harris was a homerun of a selection. Without him, there would be no hope for the playoffs. There simply isn't anyone (or tandem of players) who could have filled his shoes and what he provided the offense.

[zeke5123]

Nobody is here to argue that OL was not and is not (still) a group that could be upgraded. Regardless, there wasn't anyone, at any position, who was available to draft @ #24 this season who was going to have a greater impact for the Steelers than Najee Harris.

The argument that Harris has been one of the best 3 backs in the league this season can be made. He's been the best back for feeding touches; he hasn't fumbled. Those are two areas of reliability which are crucial for Pittsburgh to effectively run its ball control offense. He's been ideal and perfect for this team. (Even if someone disagrees, hates, etc. the offensive approach)

For this, likely Ben's last go round, Harris was a homerun of a selection. Without him, there would be no hope for the playoffs. There simply isn't anyone (or tandem of players) who could have filled his shoes and what he provided the offense.

Just because Tomlin gave him the ball a lot and didn’t sign an NFL back up doesn’t make him a top 3 back.

Creed would’ve done more by making the o line not terrible. A trade back and Creed would’ve been awesome.

[Jizz Mop]

Over here, yes. He looked not particularly good today and ran into a wad of bodies again

Does he need Dickerson glasses? Serious question.

He doesn’t look like a first round pick at all.

My God these people do exist.

Tough crowd to please.

Najee is a rookie playing behind the most epically bad Steelers offensive line I have ever seen.

Personally I think we landed a great player. Sorry it wasn’t a Jarvis Jones, Terrell Edmunds or a Devin Bush.

[PennyBacker]

But we've seen a rookie get plugged in to be the pivot for this OL. It hasn't exactly been a pretty sight.

I personally see the lack of a "change of pace" guy to have been a blessing - but only because of Harris' perpetual toughness and grind. For whatever reason, this offense does not have the capacity to be overly dynamic at the moment. So thank heaven for #22.

[ToddHaleysNineIron]

i want everyone to do this right now…. go make a pick by who is available at the pick and then put where that guy got drafted.

nobody takes creed humphrey in round 1. your only bet is to trade down and you gotta have takers for that… who knows of there was anyone worth coveting there for another team

regardless najee did what a first round back could do… guy makes catches not many backs who are 3 down guys can make… then he makes a guy miss or run throughs them

[LakecrestSteeler]

Came back from serious pain! No Rookie wall thus far. He looks like a gamer to me. I am looking forward to him. I enjoyed Bettis a great deal when he played, so if Harris has leadership and keeps getting better it may be a fun playoff run and season next year.

[955876]

nobody takes creed humphrey in round 1. your only bet is to trade down and you gotta have takers for that… who knows of there was anyone worth coveting there for another team

The issue to me isn’t the drafting of Najee over Humphrey in the 1st but taking Muth over Humphrey in the 2nd. That was dumb.

I think Muth is a pretty good player. But not dynamic enough to ignore the oline there.

Hopefully Green makes HUGE strides in year two.

Because he killed us all year. Horrible this far.

[Jizz Mop]

i want everyone to do this right now…. go make a pick by who is available at the pick and then put where that guy got drafted.

nobody takes creed humphrey in round 1. your only bet is to trade down and you gotta have takers for that… who knows of there was anyone worth coveting there for another team

regardless najee did what a first round back could do… guy makes catches not many backs who are 3 down guys can make… then he makes a guy miss or run throughs them

His one-handed catch to start our GW drive in OT that he turned into a first down? No big deal I guess?

[LakecrestSteeler]

I am pretty sure Harris has “it”! It will be revealed shortly…maybe in the playoff game, but definitely next season!

[langer]

Over here, yes. He looked not particularly good today and ran into a wad of bodies again

Does he need Dickerson glasses? Serious question.

He doesn’t look like a first round pick at all.

My God these people do exist.

Correct thank you for your stunningly beautiful rebuttal. Stellar work! Really fucking excellent.

[Kodiak.]

Weird flex...

But I'm over the moon getting to see Ben in the playoffs one last time. I expect it to be ugly, but it will be complete.

[ToddHaleysNineIron]

i want everyone to do this right now…. go make a pick by who is available at the pick and then put where that guy got drafted.

nobody takes creed humphrey in round 1. your only bet is to trade down and you gotta have takers for that… who knows of there was anyone worth coveting there for another team

regardless najee did what a first round back could do… guy makes catches not many backs who are 3 down guys can make… then he makes a guy miss or run throughs them

His one-handed catch to start our GW drive in OT that he turned into a first down? No big deal I guess?

Agreed... like I said - there aren't many 3 down backs that make that play, and when I look at what was available in the first round when Najee was taken, I don't think there were any offensive lineman there worth that pick - your only option was to trade down and hope that you get Javonte Williams in enough time. After the Najee pick the next olineman was Landon Dickerson - who went 37th. Taking him in the first is a reach, and you then can take a running back in R2, except Javonte Williams goes in the early 2nd.. and even with Harris pushing that down, he probably doesn't last to the Steelers in R2.

I think the next few years - Najee and Friermuth are going to be seen as absolute rock solid selections from this draft - they were both big time contributers this year in positions that were void of even starting talent a year ago.

I saw enough Benny Snell today, and I think the biggest problem with this O-line wasnt as much talent as it was having a hack o-line coach and a head coach who didn't see it.

[SteelerDayTrader]

What’s wrong with this team ?? In no real order

- It lacks heart.....Harris has tons and tons of heart
- It lacks post season starter talent.....Harris isn’t the best RB I’ve ever seen. He is real damn far from the worst. He has the ability to force opposing defenses to stay honest. If they make a mistake or miss a tackle he can make them pay with big gains
- It lacks character and leadership.....It’s a bit early to hold Harris to a leadership standard but he has all the looks of it. Also has a lot of character.
- It isn’t clutch. No HIG Factor......Harris has a high HIG Factor and has made big plays to win games
- It isn’t tough......Harris does tough like drinking water. It’s natural to him
- It lacks players with various skill sets.....Harris does everything you need a RB to do well


I’m not sure if the other RBs drafted later would’ve been just as good or good enough or better than Harris or not.

This team has drafted very poorly for several years running. It isn’t well coached or well run from top to bottom

Harris is EXACTLY the kind of player the Steelers need a lot more of

All of that is worth a 1st rder to me

[bradshaw2ben]

Listen, all he has to do for me to love him forever is for him to continue to be as clutch as he's been the past two weeks.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Renfrow has the best WR footwork save Cupp

[Smashmouth21]

People down on the Najee pick have agendas. Dynamic playmaker behind garbage oline. Night and day difference when he was in the game. Steelers lose without him.

People down on the Muth pick have oline crushes. Muth may be the best pick of the Steelers draft. And it was a good one. Catches everything that comes his way. Gets YAC. Matchup mismatch. TD machine. Not just a move/glorified slot WR. Steelers lose without him.

Both these players are foundational for the rebuild. If oline is the focus of the draft and defense gets some front 7 pieces back Steelers are a QB away from being very very dangerous.

[langer]

I have no agenda. That’s goofball sloped forehead bullshit.

Ekeler is a UDFA. He runs better than Najee.

That’s of course my opinion.

[Smashmouth21]

I focused on the highly smoked Creed in prime time last night. I was not impressed by his penchant for holding or getting beat by speed. Definitely rather have Muth.

[SteelerDayTrader]

I have no agenda. That’s goofball sloped forehead bullshit.

Ekeler is a UDFA. He runs better than Najee.

That’s of course my opinion.

It’s a fair point

But it’s not like Harris isn’t a very good RB for the Steelers