Todd McShay 2021 Mock Draft: Steelers Select Alabama RB Najee Harris

[Oviedo]

I think a RB like Harris in Round 1 only makes sense if we move on from Ben and plan for Rudolph as our starter and we want to take pressure off over reliance on the pass. I think if Bens stays he is going to want to throw and would be resistant to a run heavy offense

[feltdizz]

I think a RB like Harris in Round 1 only makes sense if we move on from Ben and plan for Rudolph as our starter and we want to take pressure off over reliance on the pass. I think if Bens stays he is going to want to throw and would be resistant to a run heavy offense

who cares what Ben wants.. Harris is something we need now and into the future. We shouldn’t approach this draft for the wants and needs of Ben next year.

[Oviedo]

who cares what Ben wants.. Harris is something we need now and into the future. We shouldn’t approach this draft for the wants and needs of Ben next year.

If the team didn't care then they would tell Ben he's not coming back.

[feltdizz]

If the team didn't care then they would tell Ben he's not coming back.

nah.. I understand why they would take him for one more year. Ben is that guy for this FO. I think its like Brees in NO.

He’s done but the Saints FO still said “Jameis is an option IF Brees decides to retire” even tho I think they know they want/need Brees to move on.

But bringing Ben back for one more year doesn’t mean we change our plan for the next 3 to 5 years. Especially with our holes.. but I do think it does we can hold off on a QB one more year if we really believe we need a first rounder to be a legit franchise. Personally, I think a year or 2 Mason or FA’s would be the best move while reloading.

and you know I’m beyond ready to move on from Ben and his contract. I didn’t want to resign him.

[hawaiiansteel]

Joe Starkey: Najee Harris would be a fabulous, obvious pick for Steelers

JOE STARKEY
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
FEB 17, 2021

It’s true: You can find serviceable running backs anywhere.

Also true: You don’t need a stud back to win the Super Bowl. Of the past 13 Super Bowl champs, just three featured a 1,000-yard rusher.

But that doesn’t mean you look a gift Harris in the mouth.

If a major talent drops into your lap — the way Leonard Fournette landed in Tampa Bay (cheap free agent deal) or Nick Chubb in Cleveland (35th pick) — you gratefully accept. Especially if you’re the Steelers, knowing you’ve always done your best work with a big-time ball carrier in the building.

In other words, if Alabama’s Najee Harris falls to the Steelers at No. 24 in the NFL draft, they should use approximately one second of their 10-minute allotment to make the pick.

Harris is everything the Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin value in a back. He is tough, explosive, elusive, dependable, sure-handed (one lost fumble in the past two years), and versatile. He protects the quarterback. He catches the ball. He leaps defenders in a single bound.

He’s a ready-made star, is what he is. The perfect player to take some pressure off the quarterback.

“I call him Derrick Henry 2.0,” USC great Reggie Bush said on Fox College Football. “If you think about Derrick Henry, he’s one of the most feared running backs in the NFL because of his size and the ferociousness with how he attacks the hole and attacks linebackers. Najee Harris can do all those things — and he can jump over people and also has routes, has hands. He can do a lot of different things.”

I don’t want to get too crazy here. One big difference between Alabama stars Henry and Harris is breakaway speed. Henry rips off the long ones — the 70-, 80- and, yes, 99-yard runs. Harris hasn’t shown that. But neither, for the most part, did Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis or Le’Veon Bell in their Steelers careers. They all had plenty of years where their longest runs were in the 30s or 40s.

That doesn’t mean Harris lacks burst. In fact, ESPN’s Alex Scarborough used an interesting stat in describing him as “by far the most explosive running back to play under (Nick) Saban at Alabama, with 128 career rushes of 10 or more yards — 40 of which have come this season (before the College Football Playoff).”

Again avoiding crazy — I’m staying vigilant here — Harris shares key traits with the aforementioned Steelers greats. He is the exact same size as Franco Harris (6-2, 230) with similarly deceptive quickness. He has unusually fast feet for a big man with tree-trunk legs, a la Jerome Bettis, and he has Bell-like versatility in that he isn’t just a check-down option. He can beat people in coverage and make wide receiver-like catches.

If you’re thinking Harris rolled up fancy numbers merely on account of a massive line and creampuff competition, you’re wrong. I mean, he did some of that, but he broke tons of tackles and did his best work in the biggest games. Google him and watch for yourself.

I’m no advocate of sinking huge money into running backs, but the big money comes in the second deal, not the first. A back needs an effective line in front of him, of course, and a coaching staff that believes in the run game and knows how to execute one. There are no guarantees on that front.

Linemen are the same as running backs in this way: You can find them in all kinds of places, but if you get a chance to take a star, you take him. If the Dolphins (18th pick) or Jets (23rd) don’t snag Harris, I’m thinking he’ll still be on the board at No. 24.

And I’m thinking the Steelers would be fools to let him pass.

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/joe-starkey/2021/02/17/pitstburgh-steelers-nfl-draft-mock-Najee-Harris-joe-starkey/stories/202102170107

[NorthCoast]

who cares what Ben wants.. Harris is something we need now and into the future. We shouldn’t approach this draft for the wants and needs of Ben next year.

Agreed. The QB had everything he could want in 2017/2018. Time to move on to what the team needs.

[hawaiiansteel]

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

The Steelers need a difference-maker in the backfield. Harris would be a great fit and bring bell-cow back potential to the Pittsburgh offense.

Harris averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 2020 for 1,387 yards with 24 touchdowns. He made 36 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns while being impressive as a blocker as well. In 2019, Harris averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,224 yards with 13 touchdowns. He had 27 receptions for 304 yards and seen scores as a receiver. Harris flashed at times, but some scouts didn't feel Harris was the same caliber as other recent Alabama running backs like Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris or Derrick Henry.

Harris (6-2, 230) is a big back who has some quickness and athleticism for the NFL. Over his first few seasons, he didn't generally run to his size and looked to bounce too many carries to the outside rather than use his power to run behind his pads in a physical manner. In the latter half of 2019, especially against LSU and Mississippi State, Harris aggressively ran downhill with decisiveness. His tape from the back half of the 2019 season will help his draft grade and definitely makes him look like a better pro prospect compared to how he performed at the beginning of that season.

https://walterfootball.com/draft2021charlie_1.php

[Joel Buchsbaum]

What round was Aaron Jones drafted? What round was Kareem hunt drafted? What round was Alvin Kamara drafted? What round was dobbins drafted? What round was Johnathan Taylor drafted? Very few running backs are taken in the first round anymore.

Probably because the position is devalued and drafts are deeper these days. However if your scouts says RB XYZ is better than the others who were taken in the previous draft and you need an RB, you take him.

Harris won't be there for us in round two. Neither will the Clemson back. They are better than the other prospects. Dobbins IMO hurt his stock by not running a 40 yard dash. Taylor had some fumble issues and people were not sure if he could be a 3rd down pass catching back. Reasons they went in round two.

If Harris shows his speed, he's got the moves and power to be worth a 1st first round pick. This is a 3 down back.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

The Steelers need a difference-maker in the backfield. Harris would be a great fit and bring bell-cow back potential to the Pittsburgh offense.

Harris averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 2020 for 1,387 yards with 24 touchdowns. He made 36 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns while being impressive as a blocker as well. In 2019, Harris averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,224 yards with 13 touchdowns. He had 27 receptions for 304 yards and seen scores as a receiver. Harris flashed at times, but some scouts didn't feel Harris was the same caliber as other recent Alabama running backs like Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris or Derrick Henry.

Harris (6-2, 230) is a big back who has some quickness and athleticism for the NFL. Over his first few seasons, he didn't generally run to his size and looked to bounce too many carries to the outside rather than use his power to run behind his pads in a physical manner. In the latter half of 2019, especially against LSU and Mississippi State, Harris aggressively ran downhill with decisiveness. His tape from the back half of the 2019 season will help his draft grade and definitely makes him look like a better pro prospect compared to how he performed at the beginning of that season.

https://walterfootball.com/draft2021charlie_1.php

The best Steeler backs were big guys, Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis for example. Neither has Najee Harris speed. I expect a 4.55 Whomever says he can't run with power needs to explain way all those touchdowns near the goal line. I never saw a Linebacker or DL player who can stuff him one on one. He'll run over DB's. Harris can make his guys miss ( Somewhat like Jerome ) and was was productive vs the best in the SEC. Yeah he played with an all star line, but his physicality trumps any Alabama back I can think of, and that's what we need.

He'll find the open hole, hit it quickly and can run inside or outside ( Key point ) ...after he hits the hole, he's a load to tackle. A grade A blocker if used that way. One of he safest picks for a RB in years. A clear upgrade for Conner who is too slow to get RAC or run outside.

[NorthCoast]

Probably because the position is devalued and drafts are deeper these days. However if your scouts says RB XYZ is better than the others who were taken in the previous draft and you need an RB, you take him.

Harris won't be there for us in round two. Neither will the Clemson back. They are better than the other prospects. Dobbins IMO hurt his stock by not running a 40 yard dash. Taylor had some fumble issues and people were not sure if he could be a 3rd down pass catching back. Reasons they went in round two.

If Harris shows his speed, he's got the moves and power to be worth a 1st first round pick. This is a 3 down back.

I partially agree. Of course the real question becomes how much better do you need that RB to be than what you already have on the roster. They might not need the best one in the draft in order to get to a good run game, especially if the passing game is better than average. This is what decides where a team will grab one...i.e, a bad passing team might grab a RB much higher.

[SteelBucks]

I wonder who Canada wants if they choose a RB in the first round. I would take Harris but some think he may rather draft Etienne to fit his style of offense. That would be a bummer in my mind.

[hawaiiansteel]

I wonder who Canada wants if they choose a RB in the first round. I would take Harris but some think he may rather draft Etienne to fit his style of offense. That would be a bummer in my mind.

McFarland gained over 1000 yards when he played for Matt Canada.

I wouldn't think Canada would want that same type of back, especially in the 1st round.

[Captain Lemming]

McFarland gained over 1000 yards when he played for Matt Canada.

I wouldn't think Canada would want that same type of back, especially in the 1st round.

It may be pure speculation, a projection and a bit of a stretch but I would suggest he already HAS the same kind of back on the roster.

[Steel Maniac]

Probably because the position is devalued and drafts are deeper these days. However if your scouts says RB XYZ is better than the others who were taken in the previous draft and you need an RB, you take him.

Harris won't be there for us in round two. Neither will the Clemson back. They are better than the other prospects. Dobbins IMO hurt his stock by not running a 40 yard dash. Taylor had some fumble issues and people were not sure if he could be a 3rd down pass catching back. Reasons they went in round two.

If Harris shows his speed, he's got the moves and power to be worth a 1st first round pick. This is a 3 down back.

I’m not doubting Harris skill set. But again they’ll still be good backs in the second round. Just like Jonathan Taylor was there ; just like Dobbins was there ..just like Dillion was there.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I partially agree. Of course the real question becomes how much better do you need that RB to be than what you already have on the roster. They might not need the best one in the draft in order to get to a good run game, especially if the passing game is better than average. This is what decides where a team will grab one...i.e, a bad passing team might grab a RB much higher.

Here's what I think. Conner is a tier 3 starter, more of a great story than anything else these days. Any RB we grab in round one or two will be noticeably better. If you want run the ball better, it's kind of hard with him. Defensive coaches and some players know darn well Conner can not run outside, so they pinch him inside. They also know he like to run to the right, and does not have much speed. This brings the defense up making it harder for the short passing game to work.

Harris is much faster, can run inside or out, blocks like a beast, is harder to bring down, and better at making his man miss. A good pass catcher too. A read zone weapon. As such he's much harder to defend. Plus he's not injury prone or fumble prone as Conner has been in the past. Fans should like Harris.

IMO, outside of punter and kicker, RB is the easiest position to coach. He either has " it " or doesn't sooner than the other positions where guys need to learn and develop. So the impact of drafting a good back is felt early. Look at the rookie success at this position.

Sure we need a new Center, Right Tackle and Tight End who can actually block, That's four round 2,3 and 4.

New mock draft with Ben being back.

1. RB Harris
2. LT Dillon Radunz
3. C Quinn Meinerz
4. TE Tommy Tremble
4B. WR/Slot A. Rodgers
6. P Max Duffy
6B. DT Jonathan Marshall
7. S Damar Hamlin
7B. CB Ambry Thomas.