Steelers Reporter Believes ‘Ship Has Sailed’ On This Star’s Return

The Steelers’ potential offensive changes won’t be limited to quarterback this offseason.

While all the focus has been on Russell Wilson’s and Justin Fields’ futures in Pittsburgh, the running back room also could look different. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are set to become free agents March 10. Harris rushed for over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons, but a long-time Steelers reporter can’t imagine the 26-year-old returning for another campaign.

“It didn’t sound like it,” Mark Kaboly said on “93.7 The Fan’s Joe Show,” per Steelers Depot. “Omar (Khan) pretty much rubber-stamped the Jaylen Warren restricted free agent tender coming up here within the next week or two, to be able to bring him back and then they’ll probably add somebody there in free agency market and draft somebody right there. So I think it was going to take a lot of negative things to happen to Najee Harris for them to even consider him coming back. So I think, honestly, I think that ship has sailed.”

The Steelers selected Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite fitting Mike Tomlin’s philosophy of a ground-and-pound offense, Harris’ lack of receiving production proved to be a hindrance and why Warren became a breakout star.

This year’s draft has a lot of running back depth, and Pittsburgh could decide to move on from Harris and Warren and start fresh with a new backfield corps.