The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to take a step backwards during the 2025 season, and a lot of that speculation has to do with the uncertainty at every level of the offense. The Steelers need help at wide receiver and running back, while the quarterback position is completely up in the air. Pittsburgh's starting running back for the last four seasons has been Najee Harris, but he is slated to hit free agency after the organization declined his fifth-year option ahead of the 2024 season. He will likely be too expensive to re-sign, but his market could be fairly sporadic.
There is still a chance that the Steelers choose to re-sign Harris to a multi-year deal, but the price will be interesting. If the Steelers were to be interested in bringing back Harris, he would likely garner between $7 and $10 million per season.
This value would probably upset the fan base, as the fifth-year option Pittsburgh initially denied was worth $6.79 million. Harris will be competing with other backs on the open market, as well as the 2025 Draft Class which has been said to be very deep at the position.
One back Harris will be competing with on the open market is Raheem Mostert. His agent Brett Tessler broke the news that the Miami Dolphins would be releasing the veteran running back on Friday. Mostert had a Pro Bowl season back in 2023, but suffered with injuries throughout the 2024 campaign. His release was somewhat expected, as the Dolphins will be saving money with him off the roster in 2025.
Mostert has been in the league since 2015, but he bounced around until he found a home with the San Francisco 49ers. He became a featured back in 2019 with the 49ers, and he hit free agency in 2022 and signed with Miami. He had his best year as a professional in 2023 as he ran for over 1,000 yards and scored a league-high 21 touchdowns.
The veteran running back is 32-years old, but according to his agent he plans to continue his playing career. Teams will probably seek out his services on a short-term deal, and he may be seen as a better back to acquire over Harris in free agency. This could drive Harris' market value down, along with the deep 2025 Draft Class that is set to enter the NFL.
Pittsburgh is expected to have Jaylen Warren as the lead-back in 2025, and Mostert could certainly be a complimentary back to the fourth-year pro. Harris' market could also get driven down so low that it would be worth it for Pittsburgh to consider retaining him.
Steelers Should Seriously Look Into Acquiring Raheem Mostert
Mostert may have struggled with injuries during the 2024 season, but if he reaches full health he can make an impact in Pittsburgh. His production took a serious hit in 2024 as he scored just two touchdowns and accounted for 439 total yards while missing four games. The veteran has always been known for his explosiveness and speed, which is something the Steelers offense needs more of.
Warren would likely still be the lead back if Mostert was added to Pittsburgh's roster, but the veteran could be a serious asset in the running and passing game. He also provides a veteran presence for a relatively young offense, and if he is able to stay fully healthy he can return to something that is close to his 2023 form.
