Steelers' Najee Harris addresses reduced value of NFL running backs

Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers is campaigning for teams to pay his fellow running backs this offseason and beyond. 

"What we go through is probably one of the roughest positions," Harris told reporters, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "I'm just advocating ... I agree with pretty much what those guys are saying. I'm a running back myself, and I'm pretty sure any running backs who will want to come in the league ... people going around and telling them, 'If you want to get paid, don't be a running back.'"

Harris expressed surprise that the Dallas Cowboys parted ways with Ezekiel Elliott back in March and, more recently, that the Minnesota Vikings released Dalvin Cook ahead of this past weekend. 

"Is it money from the team? They got to pay somebody? I don't know," a seemingly perplexed Harris said about such roster decisions. "But it's eye-opening, for sure."

Harris spoke as the New York Giants and Saquon Barkley are in the middle of a contract dispute that could involve Barkley remaining away from the team through at least the middle of next month. The Giants used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain Barkley's rights on March 7, and the sides have until the July 17 deadline for teams to sign tagged players to work out an agreement. Otherwise, Barkley will have to either play on the $10.091M franchise tender for 2023 or forfeit guaranteed money by sitting games out. 

Retired quarterback and current NFL analyst Chris Simms said last week that Barkley and other tagged running backs such as Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs are having "the toughest conversation in the sport right now" regarding how running backs are valued in the modern league that is largely dominated by passing attacks. Harris insisted he and his peers can offer plenty to offenses as more than just bruising ball-carriers. 

"I'll always love the position," Harris explained. "You could do so much. It's almost as if you're a queen in chess. You could do a lot of things: Line up out wide, run the ball, protection. [You] could be implemented in the offense so much. For them to say a position is not as valued, it's kind of crazy."

According to ESPN stats, Harris finished the 2022 regular season fifth among all players with 272 carries and 15th with 1,034 rushing yards. The 25-year-old first-round pick from the 2021 draft also contributed seven rushing touchdowns to go along with 41 receptions for 229 yards and three scores.