Steelers take Alabama RB Najee Harris with No. 24 overall pick in NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers got the running back they waited all night — and arguably the past three months — to select when they took Alabama’s Najee Harris with the No. 24 overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday.

“We were very excited he was there for us,” general manager Kevin Colbert said. “When we went through our scenarios, it was a very easy decision for us.”

At 6-foot-1, 232 pounds, Harris gives the Steelers a bruising, productive back they have lacked in recent seasons. The last time the Steelers had a back surpass 1,000 yards in a season was 2017 when Le’Veon Bell rushed for 1,291 yards. James Conner never gained more than 973 yards in his three seasons as a starter.

The Steelers made no attempt to re-sign Conner, and with team president Art Rooney II saying that fixing the No. 32-ranked running game was one of the biggest offseason priorities, the organization figured to take a back early in the draft.

Harris, a 23-year-old senior, fits that bill. He was the first running back selected and the most productive in college football last season.

“He’s got a nice combination of size, strength and athleticism,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “His picking vision is excellent in terms of finding holes. He shows patience while doing that. He’s a complete back. He’s very good in the passing game, whether it’s routes out of the backfield or aligning outside the backfield. There are not a lot of holes in his overall game, and I think those are the things that made him an attractive selection.”

Harris is the first running back taken by the Steelers in the first round since Rashard Mendenhall in 2008 and the first offensive player they chose in the opening round since guard David DeCastro in 2012.

Harris could have forfeited his final year of eligibility and declared for the 2020 draft but elected to return to Alabama for his senior season. He solidified his first-round status by rushing for 1,466 yards and averaging 5.8 yards per carry while scoring 26 touchdowns in 13 games for the national champions.

In the process, Harris became Alabama’s all-time rushing leader with 3,843 yards and set school records for total touchdowns (57) and rushing touchdowns (46), surpassing the likes of Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry.

That only tells part of the story, he said.

“In today’s game, some people say it’s a passing league, so I have to be utilized in the passing game,” said Harris, who caught 70 passes combined in his final two seasons at Alabama. “I can line up wide, in the slot and be a mismatch for linebackers. Running between the tackles I feel like is a big thing in today’s game. I feel I can match that with my size.”

Harris watched the draft unfold in Oakland, Calif., with a contingent that included Bay Area native Marcus Peters of the Baltimore Ravens. Although he had heard the Steelers were a possible destination, he didn’t consider it to be a lock.

“Of course, you hear a lot of mixed rumors about a lot of things,” he said. “I can’t really say I expected it, though. You expect a bunch of stuff.”

Harris scored points off the field with Steelers brass when he missed his flight from Dallas to attend Alabama’s pro day in March. He rented a car and drove nine hours overnight so he could make it on time for the 10 a.m. event in which he wasn’t even participating.

“That really struck a chord with coach and I,” Colbert said.

The dominoes fell perfectly for the Steelers to get Harris. Colbert said the Steelers targeted eight players who might be available with the No. 24 overall pick. If all were gone, only then would the organization consider trading back in the round.

Five quarterbacks, five tackles, four wide receivers, three cornerbacks, three linebackers, two defensive ends and one tight end went before the Steelers’ pick arrived.

Two teams that reportedly were interested in taking a running back went in different directions. The New York Jets traded up nine spots to No. 14 and took guard/tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker of USC. The Miami Dolphins went with defensive end Jaelen Phillips at No. 18.

Quarterbacks represented the first three picks as Trevor Lawrence went to Jacksonville, Zach Wilson to the New York Jets and, in a bit of a surprise, Trey Lance to San Francisco. Two more went in the top half of the round: Justin Fields to Chicago at No. 11 and Mac Jones to New England at No. 15.

Atlanta stopped the early run on quarterbacks by taking Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. Cincinnati began a run on wide receivers by taking LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase with the No. 5 overall pick. Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle went next to Miami.

Offensive line was a position of interest for the Steelers, and a handful was taken in the opening round.

The first tackle went off the board with the No. 7 pick when the Detroit Lions selected Oregon’s Penei Sewell. Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater became the second when the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him No. 13 overall. Tackle/guard Alijah Vera-Tucker went at No. 14 when the New York Jets traded up from No. 23 with Minnesota.

The fourth lineman was a surprise when Las Vegas took Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood at No. 17.

The Vikings, drafting immediately ahead of the Steelers, took tackle Christian Darrisaw. That set the stage for the Steelers to get their running back.

“I understand they did finish last in rushing,” Harris said. “Through practice and hard work that can be changed. I feel no pressure, to be honest with you.”