Steelers' GM Omar Khan Points To Massive Quarterback Salaries As Reasoning For Limited Running Back Cash

The Pittsburgh Steelers could be headed toward a difficult contract situation in a few years. If you haven't been paying attention, the state of the running back market is getting worse. As other positions continue to make more and more money, the running back position is stuck in a stalemate. Several top guys were free agents this offseason, and none of them got big-time deals.

After an initial holdout, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley settled for a one-year deal worth up to $11 million. From the initial franchise tag, he will only make about $1 million more. While that's still a ton of money in the grand scheme of things, it's not a great deal when you consider what Barkley brings to the Giants. Plenty of running backs around the league formed a group chat as a result, as they tried to figure out how to settle this issue.

Najee Harris was apart of that chat and the eventual Zoom meeting, and in addition to several other top backs, he tweeted out his displeasures last week. In a press conference on Thursday, General Manager Omar Khan was specifically asked about the state of the RBs around the league. He identified one particular reason as to why running backs are not making more money.

"Look, you don't have to be a mathematician to figure it out. When quarterback salaries start increasing at the rate that they're increasing, at some point, it's going to have a residual effect on somewhere on the roster. Every franchise is going to handle things differently. It's up to every franchise on how to build their roster. I get it, there's ways to get around whatever the cap number is, it's just gonna be a natural fact."

There are just five running backs who make over $12 million per year, as Christian McCaffrey sits atop the list at just over $16 million AAV. Some of the biggest contracts handed out over the years, like David Johnson and Todd Gurley, didn't pan out too well. When examining the deals those guys got, the rate for today's top RBs hasn't gone up at all. On the contrary, there are 18 quarterbacks that make at least $24 million per year. 

Will Steelers face similar issue with Harris in a few years?

Harris, selected 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, has just two years remaining on his rookie deal. Beyond that, a decision will be made on his fifth-year option. It's something that he could use to his advantage to try and get a bigger deal one year sooner. He spoke out on the issue when arriving to Latrobe on Wednesday, stating that owners are content on abusing the RB position. 

"Najee was a good player [in the 2021 NFL Draft], we had him rated up there. We're never going to apologize for taking a good football player," Khan said about the team taking Harris in the first round a few years ago. "I have not talked to Najee specifically about that. We talk all the time, I see him every day. Najee's a Steeler, he's a great Steeler. He's a great person, great teammate, great in our building. We're all family in this organization."

It'll be interesting to see how everything shakes out with the RBs, as it seems like a prevalent issue that will need to be addressed next offseason. For Harris, he will need to step up his performance in 2023 if he wants a long-term deal in Pittsburgh. While he's eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons, it has come at an inefficient rate. Across 579 attempts, Harris has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry. With a much-improved offensive line, he has no excuses in 2023.

If Harris were a free agent right now, what would you pay him on an annual basis? What should the NFL/NFLPA do to fix this RB situation? Do you think the Steelers will keep him beyond his rookie contract? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, yinz!

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