Steelers' Najee Harris ranked 8th among RBs for 2022 NFL season

Last month, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he viewed 2021 rookie Najee Harris as "a born leader," but not everybody is sold the 24-year-old is already among the NFL's best ball-carriers. 

While Harris finished his debut pro season fourth among all players with 1,200 rushing yards and second with 307 carries, former offensive lineman and current analyst Ross Tucker remarked in June that he "was not overly impressed by" Harris throughout the 2021 campaign. A subsequent Pro Football Focus piece suggested Harris was not among the NFL's most-elusive backs last season. 

For a series of posts produced by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN this summer, over "50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players" were surveyed to help determine the top 10 players at multiple positions heading into the upcoming season. Harris finished eighth on the running backs list but once again wasn't able to dodge scrutiny. 

"One NFL defensive coach said, 'Not for me. He had 1,200 yards when everyone knew he was going to run it. They knew the Steelers weren't throwing deep and their offensive line was terrible,'" Fowler wrote. 

"But one front-office executive said Harris is great in space because he's a 'big person' at 6-foot-1, 232 pounds with broad shoulders and is a 'handful in the open field.' Harris' 62 rushes for a first down ranked third in the NFL. The exec explained the problem lies when a play isn't blocked up well at the line because defenders get good shots on Harris' big frame, and he is not sudden or fast enough to evade those hits."

Harris added 74 receptions for 467 yards and three touchdowns to his personal 2021 stat line but clearly still has plenty to prove to doubters. He also has some bulletin-board material if he needs extra motivation heading into training camp sessions that will get underway later this month.