Alabama’s Najee Harris was arguably the best running back in the 2021 NFL draft. So after he fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 24, they jumped up on the opportunity to restore their historically great ground game. And Steelers fan Draymond Green couldn’t have been happier for his team.
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The Steelers rushing was horrific in 2020. While the team was loaded with receiving talent, the rush attack was the worst in the league. Pittsburgh only rushed for 1351 yards on the ground as a team in 2020 on 373 attempts, finishing last in both yardage and yards per attempt with 3.6 YPA. They also ranked 27th in rushing touchdowns across the league with 12.
In the #Browns #WildCardWeekend victory on Sunday:
🔹#Steelers: 52 team rushing yards
🔹Nick Chubb: 52 yards *after contact* pic.twitter.com/w5ah4pdgEr— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) January 11, 2021
Thus, it wasn’t a secret that the Steelers were in the market to draft a back, especially after losing RB James Conner in free agency. Harris’s elite skill set might just be the bell cow that the Steelers need to take the team to another Super Bowl. And Draymond Green was Stoked.
Draymond Green congratulates Najee Harris after he gets drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On his Twitter account, Green proclaimed that the Steelers’ ground game is back after adding the former Alabama Crimson Tide running back to the fold.
Great pick by my Steelers baby!!! Congrats @ohthatsNajee22 Ground Game is back baby!!! Super Bowl!!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) April 30, 2021
Greens’ excitement is understandable considering what Harris adds to the Steelers offense. Harris had an amazing collegiate career at Alabama winning the Doak Walker Award and was named as a unanimous All-American in his senior year.
Harris rushed for 1466 yards on 251 carries with 23 touchdowns in 2020. And Harris also became Alabama’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,843), total scrimmage yards (4,624), and touchdowns (57). This is no small feat considering that players like Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram game out of Alabama as well.
New Steelers first-round pick Najee Harris, live on Zoom: “I really can’t say I expected that, especially being a running back.” Says he does realize Steelers were last in rushing last year, but he doesn’t feel any pressure. pic.twitter.com/YctUTl4LSF
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) April 30, 2021
Najee Harris will have some big shoes to fill with the Steelers, considering he shares the same last name as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher Franco Harris. It remains uncertain how his game will translate in the next level, but it seems like he will have the full support of Draymond Green.
