The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted running back Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Through his four seasons with the Steelers, he has taken a heck of a beating running behind a beat-up offensive line and in a poor offensive scheme. Despite this, Harris has rushed for over 1,000 yards every season and has never missed a game. His durability has been remarkable considering the amount of attempts he gets, but many feel like he hasn't lived up to his hype. The Steelers seem poised to move on from Harris in free agency, and many feel like they'll roll with Jaylen Warren.
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Steelers' Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren working on a drill together at practice.
If the Steelers do decide to part ways with Harris, it would leave them needing to find a running back in either the draft or free agency. With the team likely to focus on improving the offensive line and overall scheme, they could target a more explosive option to complement Warren. Finding a dynamic, playmaking back who can thrive in a better system might be exactly what Pittsburgh needs to revitalize their ground game and boost the offense.
Here are 3 exciting options in the free agent market that the Steelers could look at. Each brings a unique skill set that could elevate the offense, from explosive speed to pass-catching ability and the vision to make plays behind a solid line. These backs could be exactly what the Steelers need to move forward with a fresh, more potent running game. They also could be a bad move depending on how the draft shakes out.
1. Aaron Jones
The first option is running back Aaron Jones, who is coming off a strong season with the Minnesota Vikings. He rushed for 1,138 yards on 255 carries, averaging an impressive 4.5 yards per carry, and scored five touchdowns. Jones also contributed significantly in the passing game, recording 51 catches for 408 yards and two more touchdowns.
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Steelers' Keeanu Benton makes a tackle on former Green Bay Packer running back Aaron Jones during their Week 10 matchup in 2023.
While he’s 30 years old, which raises concerns for running backs, a backfield pairing of Jones and Warren would be exciting for at least a couple of seasons. His market value is around $6 million making him more affordable than Harris would be. Of course the age difference is the reason for that.
2. JK Dobbins
The next option is Los Angeles Chargers running back JK Dobbins, who began his career with the Steelers' rival, the Baltimore Ravens. Despite dealing with injuries, including in 2024, Dobbins had a productive season under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh in year one. He rushed for 905 yards on 195 carries and scored nine touchdowns.
While he didn’t make a huge impact in the receiving game, he showed he could contribute when needed. At 26 years old and with a market value of $7.3 million, Dobbins could be a solid option at running back, though his injury history presents some obvious risk.
3. Alexander Mattison
The last option is a lot less exciting but could serve as a safety net—Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison. At 26 years old, Mattison got extra playing time in 2024 due to injuries, but hasn’t made a huge impact in the NFL. However, he has proven to be a decent back. In 2024, Mattison carried the ball 132 times for just 400 yards. He scored four rushing touchdowns. He also added 36 catches for 294 yards and one receiving touchdown.
He cost the Raiders just $2 million in 2024, making him a much cheaper option for the Steelers. This would allow Pittsburgh to still target a running back in the draft while having a veteran presence to help support Warren. However, many would argue if they were to go this route. They should just draft a running back and save their free agent spending for other positions.
Steelers' Best Option Seems To Be Just Drafting A Running Back
The 2025 NFL draft class is stacked with running back talent, making it tough to justify paying Harris his $6.79 million fifth-year option, especially with his market value now around $9 million. The Steelers declined Harris' fifth-year option in the 2024 offseason so now they wouldn't likely offer him more money. If the Steelers move on from Harris, spending that same money on a new back unfamiliar with the scheme wouldn’t make much sense.
The most logical move would be to look for gems in the draft. There’s plenty of talent available, and a draft pick would be cheaper and provide a longer-term solution. While it would be surprising to turn to free agency, if the Steelers do, Dobbins and Jones would be solid options.
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Steelers' Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren talk during a game.
First, the Steelers need to lock up Warren, who's a restricted free agent. Then they must decide whether free agency is worth pursuing. With so much talent in the draft, drafting one or two backs seems like the best choice, but if they look to free agency, these three names could be worth watching.
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