Alabama Football: Perfect NFL team fits for Najee Harris
By Dakota Cox
Najee Harris would thrive with these teams after Alabama football.
Najee Harris decided to come back to play for Alabama football after a great junior season. He has the talent to be the first running back taken off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. No matter where he goes, fit matters more than draft placement. Just look at Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of LSU. Many had him behind other running backs in the 2020 class, but he is poised to thrive with the Kansas City Chiefs due to fit.
Najee Harris needs a team with an established offensive line, no stable of running backs to compete with, and an offensive scheme that relies on a balance of running and passing. With that list of needs, the number of perfect fits for Najee dies down considerably. However, here are the perfect fits for Najee Harris.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee would be the perfect back for the Pittsburgh Steelers moving forward. Their offensive line is aging, but they are one of the best in the AFC. They also need a plan past James Conner. Conner is a quality back, but he has not proven that he is worth an expensive second contract. Instead, the Steelers would prefer to draft their future running back, and Harris would work perfectly.
Harris has enough tread on the tires to be a workhorse, but he is also capable of being a third-down back because of his pass-catching abilities. With Ben Roethlisberger approaching 40, having a strong running game is vital for the Steelers. Harris can bring that.
Washington Football Team
Washington doesn’t have the winning culture or the offensive line that Pittsburgh has, but they will always consider drafting an Alabama football player. After cutting Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice, they desperately need a running back for the future.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins is not a mobile threat, so he could use a dump-down option if the pocket gets cluttered. Najee can turn those simple passes into large gains with his agility in the open field.
Miami Dolphins
Miami is rebuilding, but Alabama football fans would love to see Tua and Najee on the same team once again. For the Dolphins, they need to build around Tagovailoa with young players on offense. Tua needs more wide receivers, a better offensive line, and a running back who can carry the load. Tua and Najee worked well together in Tuscaloosa, and both could succeed in Miami.
Next. Grading Alabama's depth by position. dark
Najee Harris will make almost any team better once he’s on an NFL team, but fans will have to wait for that day. Until then, Najee will make Alabama football a better team.