The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Alabama running back Najee Harris with the 24th pick in this year's NFL draft and he will play an immediate role for the Steelers.
Taking a running back in the first round is always a risky proposition because it is the most replicable position in football and they tend to not be huge difference makers. However, Najee and the Steelers will look to buck this trend and prove just how important a great running back can be to an offense.
In a recent appearance on Pro Football Talk Radio, Steelers' GM Kevin Colbert said this about the first-round pick:
“He made NFL runs routinely, and he could also play in the passing game, both as a receiver and as a blocker. He’s basically a three-down back coming from an NFL-like system, plugging into a similar type system. He made NFL runs at the collegiate level. He did it at a high level. He helped them win a national championship, so hopefully he can help us win some games.”
Harris is one of the more accomplished college running backs in recent memory and his game evolved well over his time with the Crimson Tide. He is a big, 6'2, 230 pound back with a lot of power, versatility, and some elite shift in his hips. He is the archetypal every-down back for the NFL. He is a chain mover and a grinder, though not necessarily an elite speed threat.
The Steelers benefit greatly from a player like Harris. They don't have an elite offense because they do not have an elite quarterback anymore, but Harris provides the steady hand that offenses like that need. He can move the chains, catch passes out of the backfield, and grind on every down. Players like that make offenses work at the highest levels.
Needless to say, the Steelers are excited about their first-round selection.
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